THOUSANDS of people have signed a petition to save 950 jobs at a biscuit factory.

A number of campaigns have been launched in support of workers at Fox's, in Uttoxeter.

Parent company Northern Foods wants to combine its current Fox's sites in Uttoxeter and Batley, West Yorkshire, as part of a £40 million restructuring plan.

Either the Cheadle Road plant or the site in Yorkshire will be chosen for the cash injection next March – with the loser being earmarked for closure.

Campaigners are fighting hard to keep the Uttoxeter factory going and more than 1,000 people have signed the Fox's workers' petition.

Lorna Andrews, Fox's convener for the Unite Union, said: "It's still early days, but there's been a good response so far.

"We are planning quite a big campaign, which will involve politicians, and will be driven through Unite.

"We need a presence in this 20-mile radius as well, in order to put across how much support there is for the site at Uttoxeter to remain in operation."

Politicians have shown their support by collecting more than 1,500 signatures from an online and paper petition.

Andrew Griffiths, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Uttoxeter, set up the online version.

He said: "It just shows the strength of feeling in the town. We thought there would be an element of support, but we have been flabbergasted by the number of people who have backed the campaign.

"We hope that our campaign will show Northern Foods just how committed the town is to Fox's biscuits and to making it a success."

Staffordshire County councillor Geoff Morrison said the campaign to save the jobs was going very well.

He said: "At the moment the campaigners are being overwhelmed by the number of responses. This has united everyone across the political spectrum – it is basically make or break for Uttoxeter.

"I personally think that we really have to put every effort into this campaign. We have more to offer than Batley, because any factory extension could be built on site here.

"But it's sad that we are having to be in competition with others in order to save these jobs."

Janet Dean, MP for Uttoxeter, said: "Keeping Fox's open is vital for jobs in Uttoxeter.

"I am doing everything I can, working with Advantage West Midlands and Fox's management and unions, to fight for the future of the factory."