A COUNCILLOR is attempting to lure a major car manufacturer to Weardale in an ambitious move to help regenerate the area.

John Shuttleworth is determined to try everything he can to reverse the fortunes of the dale, which is facing 147 job losses with the imminent closure of the Blue Circle cement works in Eastgate.

Negotiations with the owners Lafarge have failed to keep the plant open and a £30,000 report offering solutions to the job losses has been derided by critics.

Now Coun Shuttleworth has invited the board of the South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company to visit the dale.

He is responding to reports that the company is looking to set up a vehicle assembly plant in the UK and has written to chief executive Mong-Koo Chung in Seoul asking him to consider the Blue Circle site.

In his letter, Coun Shuttleworth says: "I am desperately looking to attract a major business to Weardale and understand that the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast, would be keen to make grants available to attract companies such as yours.

"Directly and indirectly, closure of the Blue Circle works affects some 300 workers, most of whom are highly skilled and could possibly be what you are looking for."

Coun Shuttleworth, who feels the company could utilise the disused rail link to the site, concedes the letter is 'a long shot.'

But he added: "Anything's better than nothing and, bearing in mind we've come across a stone wall with Blue Circle, it's a possibility as far as I'm concerned."