The Unite union has urged action to save 60 jobs under threat at Great Yarmouth microtechnology plant C-MAC.

The union said that the threatened loss of the highly-skilled jobs at the Fenner Road site would be a 'hammer blow' to the town, which has been one of the hardest hit in East Anglia by the government's austerity regime.

Unite regional officer, Mark Walker said: 'C-MAC is a vital part of the local economy, providing essential highly-skilled jobs in an area that has been very badly hit by the national economic down-turn.

'We are urging the local community to get behind the campaign to save these jobs. 'The announcement by the company is a hammer blow to the Great Yarmouth economy.

'We want to explore the reason for the company's decision with management, with the aim of retaining these jobs in Yarmouth. We don't want to see any compulsory redundancies.'

Unite is the only union at the Yarmouth site and hopes to meet the management next week for talks. There is now a 30-day consultation period.

The company makes micro-technology components for various industries, including the defence sector.