THE Vale wife of a worker at the crisis-hit MG Rover's Longbridge factory in Birmingham is doing her bit to help other employees and their families who fear for their jobs.

Mary Nielsen, aged 55, who lives with her husband, Mike, at Norval Road, South Littleton, has set up a news group website, Longbridge Family Support, where fellow workers can offer support and air their views.

She said: "I have set up this unofficial self-help group on Google for MG Rover employees and their families."

"Hopefully, we can give each other mutual support through this tough time. It is an horrendous situation, just being in limbo, but there is nothing we can do."

Mr Nielsen, aged 51, has been with MG Rover for 26 years in production and design.

"He loves his job and is fiercely proud of what he does. If the firm closes it will be such a waste," Mrs Nielsen said.

She added: "It is an horrendous situation. All the drama last Friday happened on my birthday - a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers from my husband and the fear that he would soon be out of a job."

Mrs Nielsen, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, said: "We were going to book a holiday last Saturday, two weeks in the sun which would have helped my medical condition, so that was another devastating blow.

"All the added stress and strain does affect me."

She pointed out: "Nobody wants to see the jobs go, but in this state of nothingness, not knowing what is going to happen or when, none of us can do anything. It would be better in a way if there was a clean break and we could start on the road to recovery."

The links for the website are http://groups-beta.google.com/group/-longbridgefamilysupport or email longbridgefamilysupport@googlegroups.com.

Mrs Nielsen was on GMTV on Tuesday morning as part of a panel answering questions about the MG Rover situation.