A journey to Paris by campaigners fighting to save a cement works ended in bitter disappointment yesterday when the senior manager responsible for the closure refused to meet them.

The crusade, by 30 friends and relatives of workers at the Blue Circle plant in Eastgate, Weardale, County Durham, ended in French farce on the steps of the headquarters of owner Lafarge when Betrand Collomb was otherwise engaged. They had to settle for a meeting with other executives of the company.

The delegation picketed the Paris offices wielding posters, and presented the company with a bag of Weardale cement.

Having left Stanhope at midnight on Tuesday, the protestors finally made their presence felt at noon to let the company know the tiny Weardale community has been left shattered by the decision to axe 147 jobs.

Businessman Angus Ward, who led a Weardale syndicate offering to buy the works, and Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth joined the mission.

The company has refused to hold talks with either Mr Ward or a second prospective buyer, and is adamant that Eastgate will close this summer.

Members of the French communication workers' union brought chairs and refreshments while Coun Shuttleworth and Mr Ward tried to speak to Mr Collomb - but were told he was too busy.

Instead, they were seen by executive vice-president Isidoro Miranda, senior vice- president of human resources Phillippe Jacquesson and Richard Olsen, of Lafarge UK, who were urged to reconsider the decision.

Later, Mr Ward said: "It was disappointing but they did say they would pass on our proposals to the chief executive.

"He couldn't be with us because he was in a meeting. I don't regret coming. We were well received and they really didn't have any option but to have a meeting. We hadn't been able to get this from staff in the UK.

"I don't think we have convinced them to take another look at it, but I did put a number of options to them in a polite way."

Coun Shuttleworth said: "This is something we had to do.

"It was very amicable but nothing new was said. They said they would be in touch."

As they began the journey home, there were no regrets that they had taken their fight to France.

Methodist Minister Les Hann said: "I think it is important to keep fighting to the very end."

A spokeman for Lefarge, Alistair Gale, said: "The situation hasn't changed. We have got to consider a further 1200 employees and the reality of the situation behind it - if we can supply our customers with cement from our other factories more cost effectively."

He said the company was doing its best to help its employees find other work as well as looking at ways to help the economy in Weardale.