A council has added its weight to the campaign to stop jobs being moved to Asia.

The German multi-national Siemens has announced plans to "offshore'' about 50 jobs from the National Savings complex in Durham City in a drive to reduce costs that will see jobs go at other centres.

The firm won the Government contract to run National Savings in 1999 and is now in talks to extend it.

Local Labour MP Gerry Steinberg and the Public and Commercial Services Union are fighting the move, which they say is "the thin end of the wedge''.

Durham City Council has agreed to signal its opposition to the Government and the company.

Liberal Democrat cabinet member for economic development, Bob Wynn, whose Crossgate and Framwelgate ward the complex is in, said: "I believe this move would be bad for Durham in that it could cost local people their jobs.

"I also believe it could be bad for customers with the potential to reduce standards of customer service.

"It could also be bad for the taxpayer, with costs of up to £25m in benefits and lost