LEIGH MP Lawrence Cunliffe is to ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to try and rescue 130 jobs at BICC.

Meanwhile, trade union representatives will meet company bosses on September 27 to salvage what they can for the employees.

More than 3,000 people once worked at the site. By the end of the year just 40 will remain.

Mr Cunliffe said although he would do all he could to save the jobs, he was doubtful the Government could change the mind of Pirelli, who recently bought out BICC.

He added: "I will be asking the Secretary of State for Trade, Stephen Byers, to try and use some influence. But judging from past experience these multi-national companies are a law unto themselves.

"It does seem to me that Governments have no power on the decisions of multi-nationals who are getting more and more powerful while ignoring their moral and social obligations."

Mr Cunliffe said he feared the effect the job losses would have on the people in the town. "It will have tragic circumstances for many of the workers involved," he said.

"Furthermore, it will have a devastating effect on the local economy.

"At this period in time when there's a genuine slump in cable manufacturing and other activities it will adversely affect the employment situation within the Leigh constituency."

The General and Municipal Boilermakers Union met company bosses at the West Bridgewater Street site last Friday. Regional organiser John Hursthouse said they discussed pensions and how some of the jobs could be saved.

"We are exploring avenues to try and change people's minds on the closure of Leigh. There's certain parts of the operation which are unique and we are investigating possibilities of these being subject to a management buy-out.

"But it is very early days and it will be very, very difficult."

Mr Hursthouse said it was discussed if some of the employees could move to other sites, but said this was likely to be management, rather than the workers he represented.

Pirellis said 900 jobs would be lost nationwide to increase efficiency and profitability. The company said it would do all it could to help employees secure suitable alternative employment.