AN MP has voiced his concern over a boardroom proposal to abandon the Leyland name from Leyland Trucks.

The decision, by current American owners Paccar, was taken to replace all logos with either DAF or Foden badges.

The company is looking to expand its workforce at the Leyland plant - a move warmly welcomed by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle However, Mr Hoyle believes the names Leyland and Foden are world leaders and will combine well, but feels disturbed at the fact that the name DAF will be used.

"Expansion of employment and production at the Leyland site is good news for our area. Foden is a reputable company and in combination with Leyland the company can go strength to strength." said Mr Hoyle. However, to change the name from Leyland Trucks to DAF is inappropriate. It was DAF who took over Leyland in 1987, asset-stripping the company, and then it went bankrupt.

"I see it as an insult to the good name of Leyland Trucks and the employees of the company that they will, in future, be known and recognised around the world and throughout the UK as DAF."

He added: "At a time when the company is looking to expand, I believe that the Leyland name, which is already renowned throughout the world, should be maintained.

"The company has been in existence for one hundred years and I have tabled an Early Day Motion in order to show the amount of support for the Leyland name."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.