TROUBLED Rolls-Royce workers have received another message of support from Germany- but this time not from one of the duelling car giants.

The Mayor of Crewe's twin town Bischofsheim has written to council leader Peter Kent to offer his best wishes to factory staff concerned over their future.

Berthold Doss said he had been following developments during the sale of the car-makers and hoped jobs would not be sacrificed when the Rolls Royce and Bentley marques are separated in the year 2003.

"I would like to make it clear on behalf of the people of Bischofsheim that we too share your worries about the future of Crewe as a manufacturing centre and the security of jobs at Rolls Royce," he said.

"Because of the partner town arrangement, which has existed since 1990, and the strong contacts that have been developing between us, I hope that the current developments will not have any detrimental effects. "The very good relationship between the two communities must not be allowed to suffer."

He added that his town has also had to deal with upheaval and job losses at the Opel car factory near Frankfurt.

"We too in the last 10 years have had to come to terms with the loss of almost 20,000 jobs from this firm," he said. "This has also led to uncertainties and negative repercussions. Therefore we can understand particularly well the predominant mood at this time in Crewe."

Councillor Kent said: "It's good to know that we have good friends in Germany who have offered to help in any way that they can. If it is useful, Herr Doss will try to arrange a meeting with the chair of the works committee at Opel.

"I will be passing this on to trade union leaders at Rolls Royce and am sure they will bear it in mind and appreciate as much as I do the solidarity of fellow workers in Germany."

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