Disabled workers fighting to keep the Remploy factory open have been handed a major boost after securing the backing of MPs.

An enquiry from an All Party Group of MPs in Whitehall has condemned the plans, which would see 43 Remploy factories, including one in Bradford, close.

A statement read: "We recommend Remploy management stop its closure programme and develop a properly consulted, thought-out business plan based on a thriving suite of factories."

The MPs also recommended Remploy employ new sales and marketing staff and explore new markets to make the business sustainable.

The group's findings come as trade unions began balloting Remploy members over the possibility of strike action.

Remploy announced its intention to shut the Bowling Back Lane site which employs 29 people, in May.

Bosses say the electrical good recycling business was running at a loss of £600,000 a year.

Although the workers were not to be made subject to compulsory redundancies, they were told they would have to find work elsewhere in order to keep their current employment conditions or else retire or take voluntary redundancy.

Tony Gedhill, shop steward at the Bowling Back Lane factory, said: "From our point of view the company's strategy is all wrong.

"Their figures do not add up and the criteria on which they have based this decision is incomplete."

Attempts to close Remploy in Bradford had been made five years ago, which led to the company building the factory on Bowling Back Lane.

Remploy chief executive Bob Warner said: "The group of MPs reviewed our proposals with disability organisations, trade unions and Remploy's chairman Ian Russell and myself. We note the group's area of concern was the process we had used to select the factories proposed for closure.

"The group did not raise this matter with Remploy's Chairman and myself when we gave evidence and appears instead to have relied solely on trade union submissions.

"Now we are aware of the concern, we have written to the group to explain the basis by which sites were proposed for closure. Strike action can only damage relations with our customers and put more jobs at risk."