The fight to save thousands of British motor industry jobs is moving to Oxford as Prime Minister Tony Blair and his German counterpart Gerhard Schroeder visit the city.

Sources at Westminster say Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers is also planning a visit to meet industry chiefs and discuss the Rover sell-off.

Their visits come amid mounting anger among trade unionists and car workers at the way Rover is being dismembered.

Today Mr Byers arrived at a meeting with BMW bosses in Germany in a gleaming, dark blue, Cowley-built Rover 75.

The Minister, accompanied by diplomats and business leaders from the West Midlands, was hoping to persuade the German car giant to give money or land to help the regeneration of parts of the UK that are now braced for job losses. Terry Pye, national official of the Manufacturing Science and Finance union, said he had seen evidence that at least 8,500 jobs would be lost - including 500 at Cowley - if the sale to venture capitalists Alchemy Partners went ahead.

Rover's official line is that it is "quite impossible" to detail job losses at this stage.

Trade union leaders in Oxford today appealed for Government help as fears grew that the Rover sell-off would mean job losses in the county.

Jock Coats, secretary of the Oxford and District Trades Union Council, condemned the handling of the sell-off as "a disgrace".

He said: "The Government should take steps similar to those planned in Birmingham to ensure that workers employed in the motor industry in Oxford and Swindon have job protection - or the chance to develop other skills if the worst happens." And job fears were also growing in related industries. Staff at Exel Logistics, which distributes parts for Rover, have been told to expect job losses as production of the Rover 75 is cut back. Workers say up to 50 jobs are under threat, with an official announcement expected today.

Last week, Exel - based next to Rover's Cowley works - made 35 people redundant, but a company spokesman denied any link to the Rover break-up.

Meanwhile, Japanese car giant Honda is recruiting for 1,000 new jobs at its new plant in Swindon. Honda is looking for 200 engineers and 800 production workers to build a new small car, which will go on sale in autumn 2001.

We want your views on what is happening inside the Cowley plant. Phone the Newsdesk in confidence on 01865 425500.

Story date: Thursday 23 March

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