EFFORTS to broker a rescue package for a doomed cement plant were stepped up yesterday in the hope of saving 150 jobs.

Durham County Council's chief executive, Kingsley Smith, revealed he was personally behind moves, on behalf of the authority, to open talks between French-owned Lafarge and an unnamed European cement manufacturer.

The firm is said to have a genuine interest in taking over the profitable Weardale Works, at Eastgate, County Durham.

Lafarge UK, formerly known as Blue Circle, told its Eastgate team three weeks ago that the plant would close in July.

Managers insist that the site will not continue as a cement-making operation, and claim that takeover speculation has created false hope among employees.

Mr Smith appealed directly to Bertrand Collomb, the chairman and chief executive of Lafarge, to give his consent for a meeting to take place. He has already met representatives of the potential buyers, in London.

He said: "They are really genuine, sincere people. Right from the very outset the county council's main priority has been to see the Weardale plant continue in its cement making role.

"The sale of the plant as a going concern would be the best way of protecting the jobs currently at risk and ensuring the best use of the workforce's skills."

GMB regional organiser Derek Cattell, who is meeting workers at the plant tomorrow morning, said last night: "We are absolutely outraged that Blue Circle would not sit down and discuss the prospect of selling to someone who they feel would be a competitor for their UK sites.

"Blue Circle's position is indefensible."

Lafarge Cement UK said: "We have not refused a meeting, nor have we received any offer for the works. However, our position is clear. The site will not continue as a cement making operation."

The firm has also failed to get around the table with a consortium of Weardale businessmen, led by Angus Ward, of Ward Brothers Plant Hire, interested in the operation.

It appears Lafarge would prefer to restore the site to countryside, at a cost of millions, rather than let a competitor in to continue production.

Lafarge is the largest cement producer in the UK with a 47 per cent share of the market.

Daniel Krimholtz, cement and aggregates analysts at stockbrokers Gerrard, said there was still hope for workers at the plant if Lafarge could be convinced to enter negotiations with potential buyers.

He said: "It really depends on what the financial situation of Lafarge is. It might cost them less to sell it as a going concern rather than close it and return the site to its former use.

"But Lafarge is not going to be keen to let a competitor into an already saturated European market for cement."