THE GOVERNMENT has provided a multi-million pound shot-in-the-arm to help Vauxhall's fight to stave off the threat of closure at its Wirral plant.

The factory, which provides employment for hundreds of Wirral workers, is at a crossroad as it vies with four other European sites for the massively important contract to build the new Astra.

If the Ellesmere Port plant's campaign is successful its future would be secured for the next decade. The borough's economic development officer Charles Holmes conceded that losing the car factory would have a devastating impact on the town.

He said: "I have been working with the car plant for the last six months to try to maximise their position when it comes to gaining the new Astra contract. The Vauxhall plant is a major part of our local economy and if it was no longer here it would have a devastating effect on the town."

Vauxhall's parent company General Motors made sweeping cuts across its European bases earlier this year. The Cheshire factory suffered with the loss of its nightshift - the equivalent of a third of the workforce.

Mr Holmes said: "A lot of work has been focussed on applying for Government funding to give the plant the best possible chance of securing the deal.

"We have also been looking with them to make sure they use the site effectively. Other business uses for parts of the land have also been considered as well as other ways to reduce overheads."