A CAMPAIGN to stop the closure of Nestl's dessert factory in Staverton has gone all the way to Brussels.

Officials from the Transport and General Workers Union met with French union leaders in the Belgian capital on Thursday to ask for their support in the ongoing campaign to save the factory.

A storm has been brewing ever since Nestl bosses announced plans to close the Wiltshire factory, with the loss of 155 jobs, in February.

Union officials have branded the company's motives as "greedy" and have appealed directly to Prime Minister Tony Blair for help.

Brian Revell, TGWU's national organiser for food and agriculture, said he was pleased with the response of French and European unions after the meeting in Brussels.

He said: "We have asked the French trade unions to refuse to accept the transfer of work from Staverton to Vallet. They have agreed to take this request back to their local members but their leaders have recognised the strength of our case.

"Nestl accepts that Staverton is profitable and viable. Closure would satisfy the shareholders and corporate greed but it would be at the expense of the local workforce and community."

One of the union's main arguments centres on the loss of business for the south west's dairy industry.

Nestl produces 15,000 tons of chilled desserts every year, using an estimated one million litres of fresh cream.

Mr Revell has already met with Nestl managers but is now demanding a high-level meeting with the company's UK chief executive Alistair Sykes.

Villagers are worried over what could replace the dessert factory if it were to close.

The site is shared with Cereal Partners UK a joint venture between Nestl and General Mills, which is unaffected by the closure plans.

A Nestl spokesman said the company would not comment further until after negotiations were concluded.