UNIONS have called on Unilever to save its historic Warrington factory after it was threatened with closure.

The company announced last week that it was reviewing the future of the Crosfields site, where it manufactures its Persil and Surf washing powders.

This looks almost certain to result in the 136-year-old plant being shut down, with Unilever stating that it will be ‘challenging to find a commercially sustainable alternative to the closure of the factory’.

But, in a joint statement released this morning, the GMB union and Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols ‘pledged to fight tooth and nail’ to save the factory and the jobs of the 123 people employed on the site.

Ms Nichols said: “Unilever’s announcement is of great concern to my constituents who work at the Crosfields site in Warrington.

“I commit to standing up for my constituents affected by the proposals, and I am working with the GMB union to try and secure the future of the workforce there.”

GMB said its members were ‘100 per cent committed to finding alternatives’ to the factory’s closure.

National officer Eamon O’Hearn added: “GMB is extremely saddened at the news that Unilever Warrington, a seminal location in British manufacturing history, could potentially close – less than 12 months after Colman's in Norwich.

“The site has been operating for 136 years and has a proud record and history, and GMB would obviously want to see a positive result for the workforce from the proposed review.

“Our members are 100 per cent committed to finding alternatives to potential closures and will be working closely with the company experts to explore all options.”

Unilever previously pointed to a fall in sales of powder detergent for the factory’s potential closure, with demand having fallen by 15 per cent in the past four years.

Vice president of supply chain Jon Strachan said: “As a result of a sustained and irreversible decline in consumer demand for washing power, our Warrington factory is currently running at less than half its capacity.

“Despite considerable efforts by Unilever to address the site’s challenges, a review of the future of the site is unfortunately now necessary.

“This decision has not been taken lightly.

“Whatever the outcome, the review is likely to require difficult decisions – we understand this will cause considerable concern for our Warrington employees, suppliers and the local community and that the outcome may have significant implications for them.

“We are committed to treating our employees fairly throughout and providing support during this period of uncertainty.”