TORFAEN AM Lynne Neagle met bosses from a firm which plans to shed 156 jobs in Gwent to try and compromise over losses.

Ms Neagle and Torfaen MP Paul Murphy travelled to Birmingham to TRW Automotive's head office on Monday for the first in a series of meetings aimed at saving jobs.

Workers at TRW in Pontypool, which employs 800 people, were told at the end of August they could all lose their jobs by 2007 if "radical action" was not taken.

Bosses blamed a drop in business, caused partly by the closure of Rover, and increased competition from overseas.

After the meeting Ms Neagle told the Argus: "It is early days but the meeting was constructive. We will be continuing to meet with TRW and the unions during the coming weeks."

Ms Neagle and Mr Murphy were due to meet Economic Development Minister, Andrew Davies today for further discussions. The Transport & General Workers Union have described the proposals as "draconian".