National bosses of a closure-threatened Mid Wales call centre have met the local MP and councillors trying to save up to 180 jobs.

All staff at Shop Direct in Newtown were told last week they were among 1,500 of the workforce nationwide who would lose their jobs when four call centres close.

At a meeting organised by Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik at the Shop Direct Headquarters in Speke, Liverpool, top management met a delegation from Newtown yesterday.

Chief executive Mark Newton-Jones, Usdaw union representative David Johnson, Mr Opik, Newtown’s Mayor Joy Jones and Councillor Richard White discussed the reasons for the proposed closure, possible alternatives and next steps in the consultation.

Mr Opik said today: “I credit the company with being both clear and honest about what’s going on and why they’re proposing the closure. In effect, they have double the capacity they need for call centres, and something’s got to give.

“I can see that, but would hope there might be an alternative to the closure of the Newtown centre as they will still need some call centre facilities in the company.”

He added the 90-day consultation period was a chance to make representations and try to find ways to keep the centre open.

“One possibility is for another firm to take it over. Another is retraining for the existing workforce,” he said.

Mr Opik said he could not “second guess” the outcome but believed the company understood what the closure could do to Newtown as it one of its biggest employers.

Councillor Jones said people were devastated by the news.

Mr Newton-Jones said the meeting had been “very constructive and frank”.