AS 173 more redundant workers left York's doomed Monroe shock absorber factory today, North Yorkshire firms continued to rally to their rescue.

Even as welders, machinists, grinders and people in packaging and warehouse distribution left the gates in Shipton Lane for the last time, Monroe management was reporting receiving a last-minute flurry of phone calls from employers looking for their skills, many inspired by a plea to them in Tuesday's Business Press, the Evening Press's monthly pink supplement.

Sue Harrand, human resources manager for Monroe, said: "There is also a hugely encouraging mailbag from employers seeking references - as many as 15 yesterday and more today.

"It's a terribly sad day largely because many here are leaving close colleagues, but there is also a detectable mood of optimism - that this is the start of a new and perhaps better chapter in their lives. We are determined not to disappoint them."

The departure of today's workers brings to 221 the number of phased redundancies since January 14 when the devastating shutdown order of the 47-year-old plant came from the Brussels headquarters of parent company, Tenneco Automative. Their reasons: the strength of sterling, the overcapacity of shock absorbers in Europe and the tendency to move work to eastern Europe.

Another 35 leave on October 13 and the final 70 will exodus in March next year.

Monroe plant manager Tony Smith's plea in Business Press for the business community to take on his workers' transferable talents are continuing to yield a number of job interviews - including in the publishing industry, in a shoe warehouse, for "a right hand man" in a haulage company and for three operatives in a manufacturing organisation.

Mrs Harrand said: "We also had a speculative inquiry from a company thinking of relocating to York. It will need a variety of jobs in the New Year and we have arranged a meeting mid-October with its representative."

There were frantic on-site efforts during the week to help today's Monroe leavers, including officials from the benefits agency, the employment service and recruitment agencies who moved on site to give face-to-face help.

"Employers should keep finding vacancies for us and letting us know. We are maintaining instant touch with every one of our workers who cannot find a job. Just pick up that phone and ring me at 01904 687687," said Mrs Harrand.