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

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

The delegation of 30 people living in Weardale picketed the Paris offices wielding posters and presented the French company with a bag of Weardale cement to reinforce their point.

Having left Stanhope at midnight on Tuesday, the protesters 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 at the plant.

Dales businessman Angus Ward, who led a Weardale syndicate offering to buy the works, and Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth joined the mission. Hopes were high they would The company has refused to hold talks with either Mr Ward or a second prospective buyer - and are adamant that Eastgate will close in the 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 to greet the delegation.

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

Afterwards 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 agreed that the trip had not been a waste of time. He said: "This is something we had to do. If we didn't we would only look back and say we should have done it. It was very amicable but nothing new was said. They said they would be in touch."

As the quiet journey began back to England, there were no regrets by the delegate to take their fight to France.

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

A spokesperson for Lefarge, Alistair Gale, said: "I think what it clear is that 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."

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