UNCERTAINTY continues to hang over the future of Bromsgrove jobs at the Rover and MG car factory in Longbridge.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown was in China last week and involved in talks concerning investment in Longbridge from the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.

Under the proposed deal, the existing range of cars would be made both in Birmingham and in China. Access to the rapidly expanding Chinese economy, which includes more than 20 per cent of the people in the world, is considered crucial.

A joint venture arrangement with the Chinese car maker is regarded as essential to the future of MG Rover but even if agreement is reached, it is thought that some of the 6,000 jobs at Longbridge will be lost.

The troubled plant employed 30,000 people in its heyday and, although it is now much smaller, remains the largest manufacturing employer in the area.

A decade ago the future of car making in the area looked secure after Rover joined forces with German manufacturer BMW but the ill-fated marriage ended in 2000 when the Munich-based company sold out to Phoenix Venture Holdings.

Economic development officer for Bromsgrove, Peter Michael, is watching the situation but has said that as a result of diversification the town is now much less dependent upon MG Rover.

The company is refusing to comment upon reports that between a third and a half of the 6,000 jobs at the south Birmingham factory are at risk.

Politicians from all the major parties are acutely aware of the possible implications of major job losses at Longbridge ahead of the general election, which is widely forecast for early May.