VALE of York MP Anne McIntosh was today meeting with a senior figure from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to discuss the closure of Brandons turkey processing plant.

The plant, at Dalton, near Thirsk, closed in April, with the loss of more than 300 jobs.

A number of local farms and contracting companies are said to be threatened by the closure.

Miss McIntosh's meeting was with Lord Whitty, parliamentary secretary to the department.

She was due to ask for Government help to find the redundant workers new jobs, and to lobby the Government over cheap Brazilian turkey imports.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, June 25, 2003