WORKERS at Foden Trucks in Sandbach are in frantic talks with bosses over jobs after they announced its closure.

A total of 42 shocked employees from the Moss Lane headquarters in Elworth have been told they will lose their jobs as the world's oldest truckmaker ceases trading.

A questionmark also hangs over jobs in the Leyland manufacturing plant, which took over production of the trucks when the Sandbach manufacturing section closed six years ago.

Employee representatives met bosses of Foden's American owner Paccar yesterday to discuss redundancy, or the possibility of work in a section of the Leyland plant which produces DAF commercial vehicles.

The parties are due to meet again next Wednesday to discuss a deal.

Foden's managing director Erik Hansen, says the news has been well received by the majority of staff.

He said: 'We have presented employ-ees with the alternatives and they are in the process of deciding what they want to do.

'It is an emotional time. Foden is well known, certainly within the truck industry, but I think people have understanding for this decision.

'We have long struggled with it when we have a very successful sister company. We want to be able to put our resources into DAF now.'

Paccar bought Foden Ltd in 1980 after it went into administration and renamed it Foden Trucks. Mr Hansen confirmed the last vehicle will roll off the production line in August 2006 - the same time Foden was due to celebrate 150 years of the brand.

Keith Stubbs, 71, a Foden historian who worked there for 40 years, added: 'This is a very sad time for truck manufacturing, and for Sandbach.

'At one time 5,000 people were employed in truckmaking in Sandbach. Soon there will be none at all.'

Neil Hayes, a technical support officer representing employees in the talks with bosses, said: 'Some people have spent the whole of their working life here so we are disappointed, but there is no animosity.'