IT was a march for thousands of people across Hampshire who are staring at an uncertain future.

Tomorrow, many eyes will turn to Brussels as the battle to keep Southampton's giant British American Tobacco plant open enters a vital phase.

The factory is under threat of the axe because of a controversial European directive banning EU factories from manufacturing cigarettes containing over 10mg of tar.

With the directive set to be finalised tomorrow, hundreds of workers from the Southampton plant marched through the city on Saturday in a dramatic show of solidarity.

Traffic in the city centre ground to a halt as police officers escorted the march through Hanover Buildings, Above Bar Street and Civic Centre Way.

Crowds gathered to watch as the protesters walked through the pedestrian precinct, before convening in the Civic Centre car park.

There they were given unconditional backing from MSF union chiefs, who said preserving the manufacturing industry was their "single biggest priority."

The workers' claim was not that they were marching for money, nor even principle. Quite simply, they said, they were marching to save their livelihoods.

They then released 1,800 balloons into the Southampton sky - one for every BAT worker in Britain who would be on the dole if the laws are passed.

But the axe would continue to fall, with an immediate knock-on effect beginning to affect literally thousands more people.

An economic impact study, by renowned economic analysts iMapData, reveals 8,603 jobs in 991 businesses depend on the Millbrook factory for crucial revenue. The Southampton site alone employs over 1,200 staff.

In total the BAT site generates an estimated £70 million a year for the local economy.

From hairdressers to health clubs, pubs to petrol stations - all would be affected by the plant's closure.

Currently, the factory exports 94 per cent of its production to countries outside the European Union. Much goes to destinations like China, Saudi Arabia and Asia, where customers prefer a stronger smoke.

No-one disputes that smoking is bad for your health, and no-one is denying that millions die from tobacco related diseases each year.

In Hampshire, thousands of people need the plant. Both management and unions have united - they say banning exports will mean the cigarettes will be produced outside Europe and the only loser will be the people who rely on the plant for their livelihoods.

BAT has been in city since 1913 and has occupied its current site since 1926.

The giant 26-acre plant stands over Regent's Park Road, but in it's shadow numerous businesses have grown up, and all would feel the pinch if the factory was stubbed out.

One Stop convenience shop in nearby Millbrook Road West opens an hour earlier than other branches purely to cater for BAT shiftworkers.

A spokesman for One Stop community stores said: "The BAT factory is very helpful to our business. We have a lot of factory workers coming in before and after their shifts, especially during the change of shifts at 6am. They come in pretty much every day."

Philip Girvan, manager of The Hairdressers on Regent's Park Road, which lies a short stone's throw from the factory gate, said: "The factory accounts for around 25 per cent of our business.

"The directive is not going to stop smoking - it's a stupid idea."

At the nearby Regents Park Hotel, an employee said: "Without the BAT factory our weekends would be rather quiet really.

"The lads come in on the weekends. Many of the factory workers live in Southampton. Many of them actually live around here in Regents Park."

BAT's factory has 1,040 members of staff in addition to around 160 contract on-site workers, including security officers, caterers and cleaners.

In the past few months some have travelled to London and Brussels to lobby politicians about the ban.

Already, 150 employees from across the company joined counterparts from threatened factories in Nottingham, Northern Ireland and Darlington in an angry protest outside the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health and Downing Street, before speaking to MPs at the House of Commons.

Today, one employee said: "It is our customers' choice to smoke fuller flavour cigarettes and there are no longer any ignorant parties as far as the detrimental effects of smoking are concerned.

"Therefore our customers should be free to choose their brand and we should be free to supply their needs."

The directive must be passed by all EU governments before it can become law.

Everyone connected with the plant has vowed to continue the fight to keep the factory open.