Union officials pointed out today that Samsung has received tens of millions of pounds in grants to locate in the North-East.

Responding to the Samsung plant slosure, Davey Hall, regional official of Amicus, said: ''This announcement highlights the crisis in manufacturing. The Government should now take urgent action to stop the haemorrhaging of jobs.

''It also shows how inward investment in Britain is not promoted by a flexible labour market because as soon as the grant money runs out, companies like Samsung are on the run.''