PUBLIC sector workers fighting the closure of their offices have been handing out leaflets in a town centre to highlight their cause.

The Tees Valley Public Services Alliance is supporting the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) campaign against job losses in Stockton with offices earmarked for closure by the government including the Insolvency Service office, DVLA local office and Public Lending Right.

Simon Elliott, Northern Region Secretary of PCS, said: “Stockton is already one of the most deprived areas in the UK. The news about hundreds of proposed redundancies at Churchill's Insurance is a further blow to the town and the local economy. We cannot afford to lose more jobs in Teesside.”

And Stockton North Labour MP Alex Cunningham has called on the government to review its decision.

He said: “I agree with the enormous majority of the respondents to the Government’s consultation that the Public Lending Right functions and the associated jobs should remain where they are, in Stockton.

“The Government takes the view that PLR would work better being carried out in London, but it is clear from the consultation that the idea of shifting these functions out of Stockton is unwise.

"It is now up this Tory-led Government to either admit that they are wrong about this, or go against the views strongly expressed in the consultation.“