SPECIAL crisis talks are to be held by Prime Minister Tony Blair, to discuss the devastating job losses which have rocked York.

Mr Blair will meet with workers from Nestle Rowntree, British Sugar and Norwich Union to address their plight.

Between them, the three firms announced 1,200 redundancies in only two- and-a-half months during the summer.

The meeting has been arranged by York MP Hugh Bayley, who will also attend, as will Trades Union bosses. Yorkshire Forward chairman Tom Riordan has also been invited, with a view to discussing ways of attracting new investment to the city.

York's beleaguered manufacturing sector was shaken in July, when British Sugar announced it was to close its Poppleton Road factory next summer, with the loss of 103 permanent jobs.

Last month, the city's economy was hit by a further double-whammy when 450 redundancies were announced at insurance giant Norwich Union, followed by 645 at Nestle Rowntree just six days later.

GMB leader John Kirk today welcomed news of the meeting, and pledged to raise workers' concerns with the Prime Minister.

He said: "We are highly delighted that the meeting has been arranged and it gives us an opportunity to speak to Tony Blair about some of the issues that are concerning the Trade Unions, especially about the lack of employment protection for British workers; about the high cost of energy to British manufacturers; and the additional burden that British employers have in respect of pensions, that our counterparts in Europe do not have because they pay higher National Insurance."

Mr Kirk, whose union represents workers at both Nestle Rowntree and British Sugar, added: "What we would like to see is Tony Blair take on board some of the issues and give us a response, hopefully to address the continued exodus of British manufacturers taking products abroad."

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway also welcomed news of the meeting, and called on the Government to help York recover from the problems.

He said: "Obviously any meeting which considered the matter with the country's leaders, on the problems of the city, could be valuable.

"What I would be hoping to see is some tangible results, in the form of additional resources for the city to help us pay for the retraining and counselling of workers, and investment in reshaping our economy."

Mr Bayley said: "I raised the problems in Parliament on our first day back after the summer break, and I have written round to the Secretaries of State who could do things to help, but I also contacted the Prime Minister. He recognises these job losses are a serious challenge to York, and I am glad he has agreed to meet us to discuss what the Government can do to help those people whose jobs and livelihoods are on the line."