WORKERS at electronics giant Philips have become the latest victims of the wave of redundancies sweeping across East Lancashire -- taking local job losses to more than 900 in two weeks.

Seventy-six workers at the Blackburn site will find out if they have lost their jobs by post on Saturday, with the company blaming a downturn in the global IT industry.

Today MP Jack Straw said he was contacting ministers over the situation and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope called for a high-tech training facility in the area to boost employment prospects. Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said the area was in a "manufacturing crisis."

The axeing of permanent jobs at the Philips Road site is believed to follow the shedding of some temporary staff.

Last week, Helmshore and Accrington-based Airtours announced it had cut 1,600 jobs since September 11.

Hundreds of jobs have gone in the last few months but in the last two weeks alone the losses include:

l 140 at BAe's Samlesbury plant as part of 1,700 redundancies nationwide.

l 40 at Cornwell Parker Eurohub distribution centre for Silentnight on the Network 65 business park in Hapton

l 300 when Hallmark announced it was transfering its Altham site to Bradford.

l 50 at Leoni Wiring Services' site at Altham industrial estate, a year after it axed 560 at its base in Accrington.

l 295 of Rolls-Royce's 1,080 employees at Barnoldswick.

Jack Straw said: "I am obviously very concerned and in touch with with the companies and Ministers to see what can be done to help. In the case of Aerospace I am keen see what orders can be advanced.

Michael Damms, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, said : "It is with great regret that I say this, but it is of no surprise that there have been further job losses in the manufacturing industry. We have been lobbying our MPs for support to prevent job losses, not least in the manufacturing area.

"It is just what East Lancashire does not want at this time."

The General Municipal Boilers Union confirmed it was aware of the situation but was not available for comment.

One Philips worker said: "No time is a good time to get news like this, but it's even worse just before Christmas. Some of them been there for years and a lot have families and mortgages. No one really knows who is safe."

Another added: "Everybody is pig sick. It's not been a good time for jobs round here recently."

Nigel Evans said: "This is fast turning into a manufacturing crisis in East Lancashire. The government has to do something to help local people rather than just stand by and watch all these jobs disappear. "

A spokesman for the Dutch company said: "The outlook remains extremely difficult and the company has to take the necessary steps to return to profitable operations. The company will make every effort to help employees find alternative employment."

Philips employs some 790 people across it two East Lancashire sites -- Blackburn, which employs 520, and Simonstone. It is believed the jobs will go in the department which makes televisions.

Workers from the aerospace industry called for government help similar to that handed to the farming industry in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis when they lobbied the House of Commons yesterday.

They were met by Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, who said: "These are very difficult times. Rolls Royce have said that every effort will be made to achieve these job reductions by means of voluntary redundancy, early retirement, re-training and re-deployment.

"But this is still a huge blow to Barnoldswick."

Mr Prentice is to discuss the situation with the chief executive of Rolls-Royce John Rose and other board members at the company's London headquarters on Tuesday.