TRADE union leaders have pleaded with chemical firm Ineos Chlor to consider other options before closing its Lostock plant.

Last month the Belgian-based company, which took over ICI's Chlor-Chemicals businesses as part of a £325 million deal in January, announced plans to axe 63 jobs by shutting its chlorine cell rooms in Lostock, at the end of June.

There have also been fears that many more Northwich workers could be made redundant as part of the company's decision to lose 450 jobs from its other sites, which include Holford Brinefield and its electrode cutting plant in Winnington.

Now officials representing the AEEU, GMB and MSF unions have asked Ineos' management to extend the deadline for the closure to allow other options to be considered.

Terry Mellor, of the GMB, said: "We have asked the company to consider alternative proposals in order to address the Lostock job losses.

"The company is now discussing our proposals with the Ineos Chlor board and a further meeting is being arranged for next week."

The unions are also negotiating with the company about staff redundancies, in a bid for them to be made on a voluntary basis.

A spokesman for Ineos Chlor added: "The company has confirmed that severence payments will be the same as those offered by the previous owner and has agreed to consider the unions' proposals.

"The company and the unions have agreed that they would wish to work together through this difficult period."