LEADER of Pendle Council, Councillor Azhar Ali, was due to meet with Gordon Prentice MP today to discuss the recent announcement of job losses in the borough.

Weston EU Limited, in Foulridge, announced 45 job losses this week and Cleveland Guest (Engineering) Ltd, in North Valley Road, Colne, said seven jobs were to go last week.

Coun Ali said: "This is sad news for Pendle, but it is no surprise following the events of September 11. As a council, we are working with the Chamber of Commerce and meeting all East Lancashire MPs on Friday to stress the need for them to lobby the Government for assistance.

"We have over 40 per cent of our jobs in Pendle in the manufacturing industry, probably the highest percentage in the country.

"As leader of the council, I am meeting our local MP, Gordon Prentice, in the House of Commons to try to lobby for a ministerial visit to the area in order to allow the Government to see for itself the impact that these job losses are having on people's lives in Pendle."

Mr Prentice will meet with Rolls Royce chief executive, John Rose, and other top management on Monday to discuss the crisis facing the aviation and aerospace industry and the company's plans for the future.

Rolls Royce's announcement of job losses across the UK was also attributed to the fallout from the September 11 events in America.

Coun Ali and Foulridge councillor Frank Neal will meet the Rolls Royce managing director, Hedley Hazell, on November 15.