Threatened Pfizer staff meet Kent MPs

MP for South Thanet Laura Sandys is attending the meeting at the Pfizer site in Sandwich

Staff threatened with redundancy at drugs plant Pfizer have met MPs in Kent to discuss options for the future of the site.

The open meeting at Pfizer's sports and social club was due to take place from 1300 to 1500 GMT.

MPs will host a question and answer session before holding an advice surgery for employees to raise their concerns in confidence.

The research and development facility in Sandwich employs 2,400 people.

The closure of the facility is part of Pfizer's reorganisation of its research and development across the world.

Task force

The US-based company has said most staff will be made redundant, but it hoped to transfer several hundred positions to other UK sites or partner organisations.

The meeting is being held by Laura Sandys, Roger Gale and Charlie Elphicke, the Conservative MPs for South Thanet, North Thanet and Dover

On Wednesday, a task force set up to help the town deal with the closure met for the first time at the Department of Business in London.

Science Minister David Willetts and Business Secretary Vince Cable attended the meeting, which is being led by Kent County Council leader Paul Carter.