THE proposed closure of Thornaby's HMRC office and transfer staff to Newcastle has been in the spotlight as the town's MPs continues to fight the plan.

Stockton South MP Dr Paul Williams visited the site alongside Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Treasury Minister, to highlight the plight of hundreds of staff how are being asked to travel or move to Newcastle if they want to keep their jobs.

He said: "The proposal for staff to move to Newcastle is just not feasible – people have family commitments and they can't spend three hours travelling to and from work.

"It will be a great loss to the HMRC as many staff in Thornaby have 20-plus years experience and they will be replaced by new starters who will, understandably, take time to get up to speed.

"Not only will people suffer because they are losing their jobs, Stockton town centre will also suffer as many of the staff walk into town for their lunch – local businesses will be losing out on customers."

Posts at Middlesbrough, Peterlee and Sunderland, would relocate to Newcastle or Leeds, as part of a larger move to consolidate staff into a handful of regional centres by 2027.

Ms Dodds said: "I have visited several HMRC offices around the country and I am hearing the same story every time – the regional centres just won't work.

"There is a serious risk that experienced staff will be lost, something that we can ill afford at the moment with the potential changes coming due to the impact of Brexit."

HMRC said the new regional centres would bring staff together in more "modern and cost-effective buildings".