THE futures of thousands of workers, whose jobs could be affected by the shock closure of British American Tobacco's plant in the North-East, is to be highlighted at a top-level conference.

Representatives of the Darlington factory's section of the MSF Amicus union travelled to Blackpool yesterday for a four-day conference, starting today, at which General Secretary Roger Lyons is expected to condemn the decision.

Following the closure announcement, exclusively revealed in The Northern Echo, he is believed to have set time aside in his speech to address the situation.

Officials will be seeking the backing of their national officers, other tobacco industry leaders and MPs, in the wake of the announcement that the Rothmans plant will close with the loss of 490 jobs.

The devastating verdict from BAT has left the region's manufacturing industry reeling and it has already been predicted that up to 10,000 associated jobs could be in jeopardy as a result.

MSF Amicus section chairman Steve Monkman said the conference, attended by 400 delegates, could be crucial in harnessing a wide range of support for the Darlington workers.

Failure to salvage anything from the crisis could be disastrous for the town, he warned.

"I'm not one for figures, but I've heard it could cost the town about £15m a year," he said.

"I can see various shops in the town centre and the surrounding area closing because of this."

Darlington MP Alan Milburn, borough council chief executive Barry Keel and authority leader John Williams are hoping to sit round a table with company bosses in a bid to soften the blow.

Talks are likely to be held with BAT management next week but, in the meantime, it is thought up to 100 people could be offered a temporary transfer to BAT's Southampton plant.

BAT has insisted that it could not maintain two plants and that the southern site has the "capacity and infrastructure to deliver the combined demand anticipated for the next two years at least".

Production in Darlington is to cease by June next year and the plant will close by the end of the year.

The union gave a muted response to a plan by BAT to offer temporary work at the Southampton plant.

Mr Monkman said: "Most people at the plant are in their 40s and I don't think they would want to up sticks.

"There may be a certain amount of people who would go, but I can't see 100 moving.

"A lot would depend on the money situation and issues such as the kind of accommodation that could be provided."

Another concern is the future of a number of trainee workers at the Darlington plant, who it is feared may not get the chance to finish their apprenticeships if it closes.