CHESHIRE County Council has thrown its full weight behind the workers' campaign to keep Rolls-Royce in Crewe.

Chairman David Newton is to write to Prime Minister Tony Blair asking him to order an inquiry into negotiations which 'carved up' the fate of the world's most famous car.

Cllr Newton, who represents Crewe West - the division which includes the Rolls plant, is also writing to BMW chairman Bernard Pischetsrieder urging him to think again over plans to build the car in the Midlands.

Birmingham and Derby are emerging as favourite sites.

Cllr Newton will urge the Munich-based car boss to reach a compromise solution with rivals VW or consider building the factory at Crewe.

The carve up was "ludicrous" and "disturbing", said Cllr Newton .

"Both the tradition in British car-making and local job security considerations appear to have been completely overlooked despite the potentially serious affect on the town," he said.

He pledged that the authority would do everything in its power to support the campaign to safeguard the production of Rolls-Royces in the town after 2003.

"To be fair, Volkswagen has promised both investment and jobs. However, I feel that promise would have a more reassuring ring to it without the threat of losing Rolls-Royce - something we must make every effort to prevent," he added.

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