HUNDREDS of shoppers pledged their support on a petition calling for the Government to provide financial assistance to Lucas, one of Burnley's biggest employers.

It was announced last week that up to 70 jobs are to go in the aerospace factory, which had diversified into manufacturing compressed natural gas bottles.

The fuel is used to power transport, particularly in the United States, but sales have not materialised as the company wanted and so head office decided to make nearly half the workers at that plant redundant.

Carole Galbraith, women's officer for Burnley Labour Party, said: "We were delighted with the response from people in the town, they were very concerned that a large employer that has diversified its plant into more environmental technology should consider mothballing.

"Compressed Natural Gas, which is already widely used in some parts of the world, could be a major environmental step forward in Northern Europe and Northern America.

"Unfortunately, until CNG is more widely used, the Burnley plant cannot be profitable and we are calling on the people of Burnley to join with us in calling for the Government to support the plant through its own and European monies during these early stages of developing its market."

The petition and letters will be sent to John Battle, Minister for Science, Energy and Industry.

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