'Positive' talks over taxi maker LTI's future

A total of 99 staff have lost their jobs in Coventry

A meeting between the government and union members over the future of a Coventry taxi manufacturer was "very constructive", says the Unite union.

Nearly 100 staff lost jobs at LTI after the firm's parent company Manganese Bronze called in administrators.

Peter Coulson, West Midlands regional officer for the Unite union, said the meeting was positive in terms of whether jobs could be saved.

Dozens of firms have expressed an interest in buying the taxi maker.

Mr Coulson said: The meeting with BIS [Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] was very, very constructive in terms of what initiatives could be made available to interested parties.

'Good buyer'

"Certainly administrators have got to dwindle down the list of interested parties."

Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North West, said 80 companies had expressed an interest in Manganese Bronze and administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was working to find a buyer.

A spokesman for BIS said: "It was a constructive meeting and we will remain in contact with the unions and monitor developments."

Meanwhile, Business Secretary Vince Cable added: "It is very worrying for the individual workers, but we just hope the administrator can find a good buyer to keep this going as a successful concern."