THE European Commission will be presented with evidence today claiming that redundancies at a North-East cement works are in breach of European employment law.

North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes is to meet the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou, to hand over a dossier into the closure of the Blue Circle cement works in Weardale, County Durham.

Legislation demands that companies facing the prospect of redundancies, should consult with workers' representatives in advance, to look at alternatives or retraining.

Mr Hughes claims parent company Lafarge has ignored these rules.

He said: "Local management has effectively said, 'the plant's going to close in June and that's it'.

"But we know in fact there's a buyer in the wings, who will take it over."

Lafarge has twice shunned possible takeover talks, with Weardale businessman Angus Ward, and an unknown European manufacturer.

The company also refused an invitation from Mr Hughes to a meeting with North-West Durham MP and Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong, in Downing Street, to discuss alternatives to the closure.

A spokeswoman for Lafarge Cement UK said the company's priority had always been its employees and it was working with a task force led by regional development agency OneNorth-East to minimise the impact on the local economy.

She said: "We have followed best practice in the way we have handled the announcement of the closure and the measures we have put in place to look to the future."

l Stephen Hughes will be addressing Blue Circle workers at a meeting at the Eastgate plant on Tuesday of next week.