A Bradford-based bosses' group is pulling out the stops to save jobs in the textile industry.

The Confederation of British Wool Textiles (CBWT), based on the city's Euroway Estate, is conducting a survey among its 180 members to find out how they have been adversely affected by the strong pound and high interest rates.

The CBWT is fighting to save jobs at textile mills which are finding it difficult to export goods and suffering from cheap imports.

Firms were left reeling last week when the Bank of England raised interest rates by 0.25 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

John Watson, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said jobs would be lost because Sterling went up straight after the interest rate rise.

Some 60 firms in the Bradford district are among the group's members who will be asked to provide details of short-time working or redundancy levels to strengthen the CBWT's case against current Government policy.

Last week Thomas Ambler in East Ardsley, Morley, said it was in danger of closing with the loss of 226 jobs because of the effects of the strong pound and high interest rates.

John Lambert, the CBWT's director, said today that the organisation had been campaigning for a year to persuade the Government to do something to help exporters - particularly the textile industry.

"We are carrying out the survey to find out how many redundancies have been made, how many people are on short time and how many redundancies might have to be made by our members so we will have some factual information to go to ministers with."

The CBWT will then write to Industry Minister John Battle with the results of the survey urging him to take action. They have already written to trade minister Lord Clinton Davis urging him to help.

The CBWT is also working with the All Party Parliamentary Textile group of MPs to raise the problems textile firms are facing.

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