WORKERS at Nelson's government file store today received a vote of support from the town's MP who said he was "alarmed" at proposals to close the facility with the loss of 130 jobs.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice is now planning to visit Schofield Mill on Friday, February 7, to urge bosses not to shut it down.

The Labour backbencher is also to discuss the possible closure with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The DWP is responsible for the store. It is among several stores holding 85million records with sensitive information on individuals which are not currently needed by the government departments.

Mr Prentice said: "When I visit the file store I shall be talking to the management about the issues and also want to speak to the people working there to hear their concerns.

"Proposals will be a threat to their job and they are naturally very upset and want to know, as soon as possible, what the future is likely to hold for the file store.

"Last week I was told by Nick Brown, the minister for work, that there is a possibility that the number of file stores nationally could be reduced and Nelson could be one of those stores affected.

"I want to see these file storage facilities remain a direct responsibility of government departments and I shall continue to press ministers and urge them to make a very early announcement.

"People do not want to be hanging on forever to find out about the future of their jobs. As far as I am concerned we need them here in Pendle."