CHRISTCHURCH councillors have unanimously backed a motion tabled by council leader Cllr Alan Griffiths protesting over the possible closure of the town's JobCentre Plus office.

The council's debate of the motion followed the receipt of a petition from staff at the employment and benefits advice centre in Wick Lane who fear it could be amalgamated into a new centralised bureau being built in Bournemouth.

Cllr Griffiths said the petition had been signed by more than 300 staff and clients at the JobCentre and he expected even more names to be added before the document and council motion is passed to work and pensions minister Jim Murphy.

The Christchurch office was among the first in Dorset to re-open as a JobCentre Plus, combining employment and benefits advice, following a costly refit of the premises in 2003.

"They are now going to throw all that money away," said Cllr Griffiths. "Christchurch people are being told they are going to have to travel to a white elephant being built in Cotlands Road," he said.

"These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and they need a local service."

Cllr Griffiths said the JobCentre provided advice and practical help including access to telephones and computers for job seekers and benefits claimants, which would be lost if the service moved to Bournemouth.

Cllr John Campbell said: "I have crossed the threshold of the JobCentre and the service is excellent. Why they should want to close it passes comprehension."

Officials at the Department of Work and Pensions say no decision has been taken to shut Christchurch or any other Dorset JobCentre after Christchurch MP Chris Chope discovered that local managers had been ordered to draw up closure plans.

Any move to close a JobCentre would need government approval and Mr Chope is lobbying the work and pensions minister to lift the threat of closure.