UNION leaders in Britain have welcomed claims that French workers do not want the new Micra contract.

The claims by union officials at the Renault factory at Flins, near Paris, is that staff are already working flat out, and do not need the extra burden of the new Micra.

Philipe Martinez, of the French carworkers' union, said: "The Flins factory has enough work. Sunderland must have the a new car to build."

The development came as a surprise to those fighting for Sunderland to land the new deal, and to Renault bosses.

General secretary of the engineers union, AEEU, Sir Ken Jackson, said: "This is very different story to that in Sunderland. Our workforce wants the job, can do the job and will do it to the very highest standard.

"We were very surprised to hear that the French workers didn't want the new Micra, and that can only help us in our fight to land the new model.

"The factory is the most productive car plant in Europe and we are doing everything we can to persuade Nissan executives that Sunderland is the best place for the new Micra.

"There's still everything to play for and we will continue to campaign for the new Micra."

A decision is expected on the destination of the new Micra in two weeks. The future of up to one fifth of the 5,000 strong workforce is believed to depend on Sunderland landing the deal.

A spokesman for Renault in Paris told The Northern Echo that it was unaware of any problems raised by the unions, and everyone at the factory was now awaiting the decision from Nissan on the new Micra.

l Industry expert Xavier Gunner is claiming that neither the Sunderland factory, nor the Renault factory is big enough for the new Micra contract. He believes the only alternative is to share the work between both plants.