A PETITION calling for jobs for disabled people to be safeguarded has been delivered to Westminster after a 114-mile overnight march from a Poole factory.

Scores of Remploy employees from the Alder Hills plant struggled with the weighty 8,000-signature document before handing it over to a team of six runners spearheaded by Newtown ward councillor Mike Plummer.

The team delivered the papers - which made up the last segment in a national 60,000-signature petition - to work and pensions secretary Peter Hain.

Cllr Plummer said: "It is very rare for a minister to accept a petition in person, so it was very reassuring.

"He was very interested in one of our suggestions to appoint a disabled person as a Remploy director.

"We want all 43 threatened factories to stay open, every one of the 2,270 disabled jobs to be guaranteed and more recruitment into Remploy factories."

Mr Hain threw Remploy a lifeline of sorts at last month's Labour party conference in Bournemouth.

He said government was working to land more public procurement contracts and promised no factory would close without ministerial say-so.

Unions have been at loggerheads with Remploy management, who want to close 32 factories - including the Alder Hills plant - and merge 11 as part of modernisation plans.

Cllr Plummer said: "When you tour the factory the workers come up to you in tears.

"They are desperate to stay on. It is more than just a place of work, it is their family."

The Poole factory makes lifejackets for the MoD and employs 47 people, including 42 with disabilities.

Of his march to Westminster, Cllr Plummer said: "It is fair to say I am pretty tired today, especially after spending five hours in casualty last night.

"As I got out of the support car to start my leg on the A31, some idiot had thrown rubbish out of his window and I tripped over it.

"I fell over, fracturing my elbow, but in the spirit of true grit, picked myself up and continued with the journey.

"I will continue to fight for Remploy workers."