A battle has begun to save a long-established Keighley engineering firm from closure.

Union bosses vowed this week to do everything they could to prevent the axe falling at Wask.

It follows the announcement that manufacturing at the Woodhouse Road site is set to cease before the end of the year.

American owner Crane -- which bought Wask in June -- plans to shift all production to an existing plant in Ipswich.

Over 80 people employed at the Keighley factory face losing their jobs, although management -- who have now entered a 30-day consultation period with the unions -- say that relocation packages will be offered where possible.

Gary Baker, regional organiser of the General and Municipal Boilermakers union, is in talks with bosses over the closure plan.

He told us: "There is a strong feeling among a lot of people that Crane moved in solely to buy the order book and then shut down the factory. This closure announcement has come as a huge blow to the workers but it is also a big blow for Keighley in general and for the local economy. It is a further loss of the town's manufacturing skills.

"Management seem intent on seeing the operation shut down by the end of next month, but we plan to fight the closure. We are told that relocation will be offered to some employees, but the fact is that this simply may not be appropriate for people. There is a lot of disbelief and anger among the workforce."

Keighley Trades Union Council president Steve Davison said the loss of Wask -- which manufactures pipe fittings -- would be devastating for the area.

He added: "We are appalled at yet another long-established Keighley firm facing closure.

"Unfortunately this is a continuation of the decline in manufacturing jobs in Keighley and across West Yorkshire, and these jobs -- once gone -- are never replaced."

Peter Wilson, managing director of Crane Ltd, said the decision to move production away from Keighley was not easy to make.

But he said the company had to remain competitive. He told us: "We regret having to take the decision but we have to look at the on-going business and how it can survive. The market is getting more and more competitive, and it is becoming increasingly hard to compete in both domestic and export areas.

"It is our intention to retain some sales and product development staff in the Keighley area. We have said there will be a number of job opportunities in Ipswich and we hope that some people currently working at the Keighley site will relocate."

Wask began life as the family firm of Walter Slingsby and Co Ltd in 1908, and the company has occupied its present premises since 1913.