TOBACCO workers have repeated their call for the Government to intervene over proposed EU legislation on tar levels in cigarettes.

As the last opportunity to amend the tobacco directive passed last night, regional union leaders at the Rothman's plant in Darlington issued an open letter to health secretary and local MP Alan Milburn.

If the new legislation is passed by the EU, it would mean that no EC member state would be legally allowed to produce cigarettes with a higher tar content than 10mgs for sale anywhere in the world.

Union leaders say the measures would affect 70 per cent of the output of the Darlington factory which currently employs 540 staff.

Mr Milburn, who is backing the new directive, recently said he believed the worker's concerns were unfounfed.

But the unions claim the Government has failed to make an impact study of the effects, locally and nationally, of the new directive, believing they should be acting to protect jobs in the industry.

John Bibby of engineers' union, the AEEU, said in the letter: "In Darlington 540 quality jobs will be lost and many more suppliers contractors and temporary jobs will go.

"An estimated £30m annually is infused into the local economy at the present time, and shops and retailers in the local community will also feel the effects.

"Cigarette manufacturers are happy to comply with regulation within the EU, but our Government and the European Parliament are nave if they think they can legislate for the rest of the world.

"Our message to Mr Milburn is that the Government should support British industry and protect British jobs."

The new dangers to jobs come a year after British American Tobacco (BAT), owners of Rothmans, announced it was closing itsSpennymoor factory where 464 people were employed.