AN 11th-hour bid is being made to save Eastleigh's doomed railway works following the bombshell news that the giant depot is to close.

With the axing of the Campbell Road works and the shutdown of the town's Mr Kipling cake factory, Eastleigh is bracing itself for a manufacturing wipeout.

About 1,000 jobs will be lost when both factories close by the end of next year.

Union chiefs say the closure of the railway plant will have a devastating effect on the local economy.

Eastleigh MP David Chidgey said: "It is a sad day for Eastleigh to hear that the railway depot will be closing for good.

"I am confident that the economy will remain strong and I hope now that the site has the opportunity to be used to its maximum potential.

"Whatever replaces it could offer many new jobs because it's a strong industrial site which benefits from access by two motorways, the railways and the airport."

But there are also growing calls for Alstom bosses to think again before slamming the doors on their Eastleigh train depot.

Chris Watt, Eastleigh's Labour Parliamentary spokesman, said: "I am extremely disappointed by Alstom's announcement, not least for the 500 people who work at the plant.

"I do not believe it is too late for the firm to change its mind and I urge it to look at all the other options, including selling the plant as a going concern.

"I hope that Alstom will be seeing if there are other firms that might be willing to buy the business before it goes ahead with this closure.

"It would be wrong to close the door on any option at this point in time."

Union officials say they were devastated by the decision.

Colin Lumber, Transport and General Workers' Union regional and industrial organiser, said: "The loss of the Eastleigh site will have a devastating effect on the local economy and those skills that the workforce possess will be lost to the industry forever.

"They will now have to compete for work in a manufacturing setting which no longer exists in south Hampshire."

Alstom will start consulting with trade union officials about the job losses in the New Year.