Around 1,000 people have signed up to a regional daily’s campaign to safeguard almost 500 civil service jobs in just four weeks.

The Northern Echo launched its Save Our Jobs appeal last month after the Department for Education announced it would be leaving Mowden Hall in Darlington as a result of sweeping budget cuts.

It was ruled that the ageing hall, which has housed the North East branch for decades, would need “significant investment” if workers were to remain there.

Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon and MP Jenny Chapman are among the high-profile names to get behind the campaign, along with hundreds of residents and workers.

Echo editor Peter Barron called for “unity” among people in Darlington to prevent the 480 jobs being moved elsewhere in the North East, with government bosses considering options including Newcastle. A final shortlist of options will be drawn up next month.

In a blog post, he said: “For decades, the town’s Mowden Hall has been a key base for the department, with around 400 civil servants working in roles supporting the Government’s education policies.

“Now, there is a danger that those important, high quality jobs could be lost to the town due to plans by the DfE to relocate from Mowden Hall to a more modern location. Another site in Darlington is a possibility but Newcastle has also been mooted.

“It is our view at The Northern Echo that there should be no need for Darlington to lose those jobs and we will be campaigning to persuade the DfE to keep them in the town.”

A petition has now attracted around 1,000 signatures and is due to be presented to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Mrs Chapman said while the campaign had got off to a good start, they needed to “keep the heat on” the department.

“This is all about showing these jobs are a wider concern for the whole town, as well as the 480 staff members,” she said.

“Losing these jobs would have a major impact on Darlington’s economy, and could take away up to £21m a year from it because these people spend their money locally and have children in Darlington schools. “We need to make the department aware of the importance these highly skilled workers have to Darlington.”

The plans to close the current Darlington base are part of a wider review, which would see DfE sites across the country reduced from 12 to six and around 1,000 jobs axed nationally.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “The Department for Education is committed to retaining an office in the North-East, where we have over 400 skilled and experienced staff.

“Our current office (Mowden Hall in Darlington) requires significant investment and we have explained to our staff that we are actively considering alternative accommodation options in the North-East.

“We will continue this conversation with our staff and anticipate further decisions will be made by Easter 2013.”