As the survival of Poole's Remploy factory hangs in the balance, support has come from the Borough of Poole.

The council has offered practical help with production and marketing, offering to promote the products with local business.

Staff at the beleaguered factory in Alder Road launched a campaign for survival when the government announced plans to close 32 and merge 11 out of 83 factories.

Negotiations since then on the factories which employ disabled people have proposed a further 15 be saved, with 17 closed, but these have not been named.

The national consultation process ends on November 12 and factories such as Poole's, which employs 42 disabled people among 47 staff and makes lifejackets, should soon know its fate.

In the meantime the council's motion, approved by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats and passed unanimously, pledged its backing to the campaign to keep the factory working.

It has offered to bring to the attention of local businesses the full range and quality of Remploy products.

The motion, read by Cllr Mike Brooke, Liberal Democrat group leader, went on to say: "This council will continue to support the work of both the constituency MP and the MP for Poole in their efforts to secure the future of this employment facility."

Cllr Mrs Ann Stribley, Conservative group leader, seconded the motion.

"It is quite right we should be united on such an important subject," said the Mayor, Cllr Jeff Allen.

An email to Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, sent on behalf of Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, said Remploy was in the process of finalising the list of factories to be saved.

"I understand that Remploy will notify their trade unions of the revised status of factories before submitting their final proposal for the Secretary of State for consideration," she said.