Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has backed calls from fellow politicians to prevent the closure of train builder Hitachi as the future of the site and hundreds of jobs still hang in the balance.

The Hitachi crisis and its threat to the North East as well as the people of Newton Aycliffe is "regrettable", says the former Prime Minister and Sedgefield MP as he backs The Northern Echo's campaign to save the factory.

The Newton Aycliffe factory employs 750 people and first raised concerns about its longevity last month, stating they had failed to reach an agreement with the government to keep its order books full and avoid a production gap before beginning work on HS2 trains.

The Northern Echo: Sir Tony Blair speaks during the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change's Future of Britain Conference in central London. Picture date: Tuesday July 18, 2023.Sir Tony Blair speaks during the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change's Future of Britain Conference in central London. Picture date: Tuesday July 18, 2023. (Image: PA)

Following a long campaign by The Northern Echo and then MP Phil Wilson, the factory opened in 2015 and is now making its final trains for Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway.

In the past few weeks, countless MPs including Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sedgefield MP Paul Howell have backed the Echo's Back on Track campaign aiming to prevent the factory's closure - and secure its future for the next generation.

Now, Mr Blair has thrown his weight behind the campaign which he believes is "deeply unfortunate" to have been needed in the first place.

Mr Blair said: “The Northern Echo was a powerful advocate for attracting Hitachi to Newton Aycliffe, a massive achievement for the area.

“It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate that it is now having to campaign so hard to preserve this vital manufacturing capability and its workforce. 

“The threat to Hitachi’s ability to remain in production and the consequent impact on people’s lives and livelihoods in the community and region is hugely regrettable.

“I wish the Northern Echo and all those campaigning for Hitachi’s ongoing viability every success.”

Mr Blair's support comes just a week after fellow manufacturer Alstom, based in Derby was handed a new order by the government.

The Northern Echo: Hitachi, Newton Aycliffe.Hitachi, Newton Aycliffe. (Image: Northern Echo)

Alstom faced the same production gap as Hitachi - but thanks to a deal to build ten new trains at its plant, it will now be manufacturing ten new trains, plugging a gap in orders that also threatened its existence, and saving 3,000 jobs.

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Politicians across party lines have recently clashed over Hitachi - the latest being Transport Secretary Mark Harper and opposition counterpart Louise Haigh.

In a letter to Mr Harper, Ms Haigh stated Hitachi could be saved  “with the stroke of a pen”, and reiterated Labour’s calls for Ministers to act and back the UK's rail manufacturing industry.

However, Mr Harper, who is also the MP for the Forest of Dean, responded by stating that Ministers “continue to work with Hitachi”, yet the future of the site still remains unknown.