The plight of 200 Heinz workers in north Norfolk will be brought to the attention of Business Secretary Vince Cable.

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb has promised to take up the cause of the threatened Worstead factory with Mr Cable, his Liberal Democrat coalition government colleague.

Mr Lamb visited the Heinz factory today and met managers and union representatives.

The company announced last week that it proposed to close after losing a major contract to produce frozen potato products for the Aunt Bessie's range.

The announcement created shockwaves across the area and nearly 1,000 people have signed a North Norfolk Labour Party petition calling for Heinz to secure the factory's future. A 45-day consultation on the closure proposal is now underway. Options including selling the factory as a going concern. Speaking after today's meeting Mr Lamb said Heinz would be contacting him shortly with specific issues they wanted him to raise with Mr Cable.

He praised all those at the factory and said they had done everything they could to put themselves in the best possible position and make the factory attractive to potential buyers.

Local Norfolk county councillor John Timewell, vice chairman of the council's economic development committee, also attended the meeting and is arranging for the council to offer Heinz its support.