FORTY years of cement-making in Weardale has ended with a plea for Government money to help one of the most deprived parts of Britain.

The dale is losing 147 jobs with the closure of Lafarge UK's Blue Circle Works, at Eastgate.

There are fears that the knock-on effect on contractors and businesses could send many more people joining the dole queue.

Campaigners who fought to save the plant after January's closure announcement pledged to press for support to attract new industry to development sites identified by a task force.

The task force published leaflets outlining new projects for Weardale, including a broadband information and communications technology network, a rural business bureau, development sites at Eastgate and Wolsingham steelworks, and the re-opening of the valley's railway line.

The group also wants to see a big renewable energy centre where the works now stands, new tourist attractions, hotels and guest houses and a Weardale brand for marketing holidays and products.

The leaflets will be put to parish councils and community groups in the next few days and are available in libraries and shops.

Weardale's representative on Durham County Council, Councillor John Shuttleworth, said an injection of cash was vital. He said: "It is crucial that we get businesses into the dale and we need money to attract new industry. People in the dale don't want to rely on tourism for a living because the work is seasonal and poorly paid."

GMB union regional organiser Derek Cattell said: "People in Weardale need some hope for the future now. There needs to be massive investment to create real jobs in this dale which has suffered years of continual decline."

North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong said last night: "The workforce has never given the company an excuse to close the plant, for many years they have shown a dogged determination to create a profitable operation that produced a high quality product."