WORKERS at a doomed TV components plant were yesterday promised they will have new jobs within seven months.

LG Philips Displays, which makes cathode ray tubes for televisions, announced it was closing its Durham factory on Wednesday, with the loss of 761 jobs.

It blamed the shut down on the increased demand for flat screen televisions, which do not use cathode ray technology.

A multi-agency task force was set up at the plant yesterday to ensure workers are not left on the scrap heap.

Gerry Steinberg, task force member and Durham City MP, said: "The workers were virtually given guarantees that, by the end of October, 90 per cent of them will be employed in worthwhile jobs or full-time training."

According to JobCentre Plus, there are 9,800 vacancies in County Durham.

The cost of retraining the workers will be covered by a £500,000 grant from the Learning and Skills Council - which is £657 per employee.

Quick response funding from JobCentre Plus will pay for an on-site job centre at the plant.

The factory closure is expected to cause more than 200 job losses at smaller firms in the supply chain.

* Meanwhile on Teesside, doubts were raised over the future of a call centre, which employs 500 people.

Banking group Abbey announced on Wednesday it was closing its Gateshead call centre with the loss of 235 jobs. It said last night that the future of all its UK call centres was under review, including its Teesside facility.

However, an extra 400 jobs will be created in a £30m development by PD Teesport.