WORKERS at a Northallerton depot threatened with closure will find out today whether they have won their fight to keep their jobs.

Union bosses representing 180 employees from British Telecom's Northallerton depot meet the company in Swindon today to find out whether it will carry out its threat to close the depot in Darlington Road.

Mr Steve Catterall, national executive for the Communications Workers' Union, said: "We are meeting the company today and we expect an announcement this evening stating the company's intentions.

"Following that announcement we will probably meet to consider our position."

This week Northallerton Town Council pledged its support to employees working at the depot.

In a last-minute bid to save their jobs, eight workers went along to Monday evening's town council meeting to win councillors' support.

The workers read letters of support from leader of the opposition, Mr William Hague, as well as Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council. They then asked the town council for their support in writing.

After hearing of the workers' plight, the council unanimously elected to write to BT voicing its concerns.

In a letter signed by mayor Coun Jack Dobson, the council stated that if the BT depot closed the town would see an increase in employment of 31.6pc.

"This is totally unacceptable in a town with a population of approximately 10,000," said Coun Dobson.

He also emphasised in the letter that the council would not support any proposed retail plans for the depot site as it would be against government planning policy.

At the end of the letter he asked if the council could assist the company in any way to remain at its present location.

Job loss fears came after BT revealed it was reviewing its warehousing strategy.

There are now three options facing the Northallerton depot. One is that BT puts it out to competitive tender, which it is believed to be already doing.

The second is to close it and move staff to BT operations in other parts of the country, retrain them or offer a voluntary pay-off.

The third option is to retain the site as it is but with a considerably reduced workforce.

No-one from British Telecom was available for comment.