The Government was today calling on BMW to postpone its sell-off of Rover to allow more time to save thousands of British jobs, writes David Duffy.

Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers was expected to ask the German car giant to extend Friday's deadline for bids for Rover.

His appeal will be echoed tomorrow by Rover union leaders who will take their plea for an extension of the deadline to BMW's head office in Munich.

BMW has indicated it is on course to sell Rover Cars to venture capitalists Alchemy.

But it is being asked to allow more time for a bid from consortium Phoenix, headed by former Rover chief executive John Towers, to be finalised. Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: Alchemy have had six weeks to work up their financial package.

The Towers team should be given the same opportunity. If successful, the Towers team will secure the jobs of thousands but they must be given an opportunity.

BMW has a moral and social obligation to the UK workforce and their families and they must listen to the Towers team.

Tony Woodley, chief Rover negotiator for the TGWU, added: BMW is making it impossible for Mr Towers because they want to see cash up front, but you cannot get money until you have carried out due diligence.

The Towers' proposals are said to include production of up to 250,000 cars each year, with 1,000 to 2,000 redundancies from the 9,000-strong workforce less than half those thought likely under the Alchemy plans.

The scale of job losses from the sale of Longbridge is to be revealed later this week.

The taskforce set up to look at ways of regenerating the region is expected to warn of thousands of job losses among suppliers and firms which service Rover.