WORKERS facing redundancy at a Hampshire delivery depot have been given a glimmer of hope after claims of a bid to save part of the business.

More than 70 workers at the City Link depot in Fareham were among those who found out on Christmas Day that their jobs were under threat after the national courier firm went into administration on Christmas Eve.

They have been warned by the administrators to expect ''substantial redundancies'' among its 2,727-strong workforce.

But Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, offered some hope to them as he disclosed unconfirmed details of a possible rescue, with Business Secretary Vince Cable said to be aware of developments.

He said: ''Within the past 24 hours RMT has been made aware of what we believe to be a credible bid to take over some or all of the City Link trading operation.

''At this stage we have no further details and we understand the matter is in the hands of the administrators with the Government and Vince Cable aware of the situation.

''With today key in terms of redundancies RMT is urging the administrators to suspend the redundancy process and work with the Government and the administrators to urgently evaluate and act on any viable options that could keep City Link trading as a going concern.''

City Link employs 33 people at the Standard Way depot, with a further 38 made up of sub-contractors, self-employed drivers and agency workers.

Administrators Ernst and Young has said it believes that the company will have to make substantial redundancies, which will take effect today and has said it will confirm the total number of redundancies once it has informed staff.

EY did not immediately have a response to the RMT's claim.

A protest is set to take place by RMT members outside City Link's offices in Coventry later today .

This comes after workers came into the Fareham depot on Monday only to be sent home after a brief meeting with managers and a representative from the administrators.

The Daily Echo understands that employees were given confirmation that the company was in administration and there would be no more deliveries. They were told they will remain employees until December 31 and have been paid up to then.

A skeleton staff of four, including the manager, have been kept on to ensure residents can collect parcels - but they do not know how long for.

Many spoke of their anger at the way they had been treated and sub-contractors spoke of being owed thousands of pounds - in one case £120,000 - by City Link.