UNION leaders will attempt to prevent the closure of a Rhymney Valley factory this week through talks with its French owners.

Cray Valley's Waterloo works at Crumlin employs 200, making solvents and other chemicals for industrial use.

But owners Total decided in January to close the factory and transfer production to mainland Europe.

The owners will be meeting a team from the Transport and General Workers' Union on Thursday.

Cray Valley is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total, which employs 1,300 in 11 plants across Europe. Machen is its UK headquarters and technology centre.