Pete Ward, chief operating officer of Young's Seafood. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

A ray of hope has emerged in the fight to save Cromer Crab Company after a leaked internal email by its owner talked about it having a “long-term” future.

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The company-wide newsletter, sent by Young’s chief operating officer Pete Ward, appears to put the Holt Road plant at the centre of the firm’s plans.

But, despite heralding it as “encouraging”, North Norfolk MP and newly-appointed government business minister Norman Lamb urged campaigners not to “assume that the fight is won”.

And Mr Ward played it down, saying it was “not specifically” about the future of Cromer Crab Company, and that the consultation into its fate continued.

However, a source at Cromer Crab Company said the email was “by far and away the clearest indication yet that Cromer has a medium/longer term future”.

The email from Mr Ward talks about plans in 2012 for Young’s chilled seafood sites, including at Cromer. Perhaps most tellingly, it mentions its sites at Fraserburgh, Marsden Road and Cromer, saying: “They will continue to service multiple customers as manufacturing centres.

it also talks about seeking a new long-term site leader at Cromer.

Mr Lamb said: “There are clear signs here that Cromer is in the frame for future work. I’m encouraged that the implication from what’s in the newsletter is that the company may well be sticking with Cromer.

He added: “I think the fact the company