The Prime Minister and Chancellor have entered the debate surrounding the future of the Jaguar Browns Lane plant, calling on parent company Ford to have further talks with workers over plans to halt car production.

Tony Blair also agreed to personally express his concerns to the company at the "highest level", unions said.

Eight workers from the plant, their local MPs and senior trade union officials explained their concerns to Mr Blair and Mr Brown, unions said. They claimed there had been no consultation before the decision was taken to end Jaguar production.

The delegation also said that the company had refused to disclose the financial justification from the decision and expressed fears there would be further cutbacks.

Ford announced last week it is to switch production to Castle Bromwich, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. <> Union leaders said the intervention was "vital" to their efforts to save the jobs at the plant.