HUNDREDS of Gwent workers have learned their jobs will be axed in the aftermath of the terror attacks in the US.

More than 350 jobs are to go at General Electric Aircraft Engine Services (GEAES) which has plants at Blackwood, Bedwas and Nantgarw.

A union leader today renewed calls for a "level playing" field to be created between the US and the Europe over support for aerospace industry.

GEAES has slashed 1,000 jobs from its workforce in South Wales in the past year. The job losses at GEAES are blamed on the slump in the airline industry and lack of demand for engine servicing from key customer British Airways.

The workforce across the South Wales plants is expected to fall from 1,175 to 825 - it was 1,800 a year ago.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Assembly said: "First Minister Rhodri Morgan has recently met the company.

"We are doing all we can to support them through these difficult times."

The Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU) said the news was a "severe blow" to South Wales with around 1,000 jobs going from GEAES in a year. The union said the American company was reacting to a lack of orders from British Airways.

AEEU general secretary Sir Ken Jackson, calling for government support, said: "We need to ensure that jobs in South Wales are not lost due to the fact that there is not a level playing field between Europe and the USA on this."

Caerphilly council cabinet member Robert Gough said the council wanted to offer