MP Greg Pope has lost his last ditch effort to save a major local factory from closure.

He appealed to the Hallmark Cards US bosses to rethink their decision to close its Altham factory to consolidate its UK operations in Bradford.

Despite the offer of new jobs and relocation and travel expenses, the Labour backbencher fears that many of the 300 employees might be unable to make he move.

And he told Hallmark's North America and International President Donald H Fletcher that the closure was a major blow to East Lancashire.

In his letter, Hyndburn MP Mr Pope asked for the decision to be reconsidered saying: "You have a loyal and hard-working workforce, many of whom described their workmates as being like a family.

"Your 300 or so employees at Altham have a combined period of service with Hallmark that has been estimated at over 4,500 years in total.

"Printing has taken place on this site for just short of 100 years - since before the age of the airplane, the television or the computer."

He said he could not understand the decisions to closed a plant with an efficient, diligent and highly-skilled workforce and pointed out that despite their shock there had been no threat of strike of other industrial action.

While Mr Pope welcomed the help for travel costs of relocation to Bradford, he said he feared few of the Altham workforce would move.

He said: "People have roots here - families and friends and schools and communities that they cannot just up and leave.

"You may think that 50 miles is not far to travel, but it is a difficult journey and the cost (when subsidies expire) may take a sizeable portion out of net salaries.''

But Mr Fletcher's reply has dashed the MP and the workforce's hopes of a U-turn.

He told Mr Pope: "The management of our UK business has spent a great deal of time over the past year determining and beginning to implement its long-term strategy for success.

"I have had personal involvement in the discussions and fully support the decisions reached by our UK management to consolidate many of our formerly separate operations to the Bradford area.

"One of the key issues involves ensuring that our manufacturing operation has the flexibility, capacity and effectiveness to deal with seasonal workflows and a highly complex product range.

"The proposed solution is to consolidate to a single manufacturing site. After careful consideration of the options, it became apparent that our Dawson Lane site in Bradford is the only site large enough to accommodate the complete manufacturing operations.''

Mr Fletcher said the decision was no reflection on the "hardworking, loyal and efficient team'' at Altham who had all been offered jobs and a package to go to Bradford. Each individual employee would have a personal briefing on their employment options.

He added that use would be made of Hyndburn council's services to help those who decided not to go to Bradford who would receive redundancy packages and help to find new jobs.

Hyndburn First is advising the company on relocating its Altham-based Hambledon Studios subsidiary within the Accrington area.

A disappointed Mr Pope said: "This is not good news.

"It is extremely disappointing for everyone.

"I took this right to the top in the United States but sadly did not get any change of heart.

"I think it is a mistake and a blow to the workers concerned and the area.

"It is a bad start to the New Year for 300 workers and their families who learned of this devastating blow just before Christmas last year.''