Hundreds of textiles jobs could be saved as the Chronicle calls on its readers to join its fight against a factory closure.

The Newcastle paper is joining forces with the GMB trade union to show factory bosses the strength of local feeling against the planned shut-down.

The Chronicle launched its Save Dewhirst Jobs campaign after revealing that 425 workers would be axed as contracts were shipped to North Africa to save money.

If the factory is still forced to close, the Chronicle will call for a Government task force to be set up to channel funding for regeneration in the former pit town of Ashington, where Dewhirst's is based.

Northumberland County Council is already backing the fight and work minister Nick Brown has told the paper the Government will do what it can to help save the jobs.

It is possible that some Government contracts - for MoD or NHS uniforms - could be transferred to the plant.

Most of its work currently supplies Marks and Spencer, which the unions blame for squeezing the value of orders down to force the firm to find cheaper production methods.

Some of the workers joined the firm after being made redundant at other factories and the Chronicle has focused on the human side of the potential local tragedy, describing how it would affect individuals involved - and what their options for the future might be.

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