AN MP has stepped in to help 160 employees at a Leigh firm sacked without pay while they were on holiday.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham has called for a Department of Trade and Industry inquiry into what he claims was the "shocking" treatment of workers at the Peter Miles Engineering Company, which went into receivership on May 28.

He has also promised to do all he can to help win financial support for the redundant staff and is seeking a meeting this week with administrator, Mr R E C Cook, from Hacker, Young and Partners, Manchester.

Mr Burnham, who met 130 of the staff at a mass meeting in Leigh's Abbey Street Labour Club on Friday, said: "I think it is disgraceful how the employees have been treated. People have been left extremely angry and feel badly let down, especially when they have not been paid."

The workforce was assembled on May 21 and told an administrator was in control of the company but that their wages would be safe. Two days later they learned that their salaries could be a few days late.

An employee said: "As we finished that day for the holiday some staff were asked in to complete urgent orders. I was one of them. On Wednesday, part through the day shift, the skeleton crew that were working were told by the administrator that the company was being wound up and everyone dismissed.

"Our union rep was told by the administrators that we could collect our belongings on Friday and it was at this time it was confirmed that none of the staff would receive wages."

Leigh councillor Brian Jarvis -- who was works convenor during the plant's heyday -- said: "It's sad, another blow to the engineering industry in Leigh which is all but gone with the closure of Peter Miles. In the 1970s thousands were employed."

The administrators were unavailable for comment.