THE US owners of Terry's were urged yesterday to think again about their decision to close the York chocolate factory.

GMB union organiser John Kirk hopes to put forward a survival plan to Kraft Foods to keep Terry's in the York area. He said the workforce should move to a purpose-built factory in York, following the sale of the factory in Bishopthorpe Road.

York MP Hugh Bayley has already called on the company to talk to its staff and unions about saving jobs and keeping Terry's of York in the city.

Council leader Steve Galloway said that if there was any possibility of persuading Terry's to stay in York, the council would do all it could to help.

Terry's has confirmed that in recent years it has considered selling off the factory site and moving to purpose-built premises in the York area, but rejected the idea.

Experts believe the site could be worth more than £50m if it is freed for residential redevelopment.

A company spokeswoman said yesterday that it would talk openly with unions, local MPs and the local authority.

She said it would be explaining the thinking behind the decision to close the site and move production abroad, with All Gold going to Sweden and Chocolate Orange to Poland.