Coventry cab maker LTI gets Unite Christmas card plea

Unite called for the London taxi to be manufactured in the UK

A trade union representing workers at a black cab manufacturer has presented administrators with a Christmas card calling for them to save the firm.

Almost 100 jobs were lost at LTI in Coventry in October, when its parent company Manganese Bronze called in administrators.

The company said it had been losing money for the past four years.

Members of Unite presented a card to Price Waterhouse Coopers with a message "keep manufacturing in Coventry".

The union has also asked the administrators to ensure any potential buyer for LTI commits to building the London cab in the UK.

London's classic black cab design is exclusively produced in Coventry, with the latest TX4 model introduced in 2006.

Alternative designs have recently started to become more common on the streets of London, as other car makers, including Mercedes, have converted their own models to meet the city's strict taxi regulations.