The American owners of a Bradford car parts factory were condemned today after deciding to shut it with the loss of all 380 jobs.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe accused Federal Mogul of ignoring a rescue package drawn-up by trade union officials which would have saved some jobs at Britain's last piston-manufacturing plant.

And he revealed that the Department of Trade and Industry and regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward had been ready to step in with assistance if the proposal was accepted. The firm announced last night that it was to begin "immediate discussions" about the timing of the closure of the factory in Neville Road, Bowling.

It is understood that automative parts manufacturer Federal Mogul, which is in administration in the UK, refused to put any more work into the Bradford plant and will instead focus on its plants in Poland and Turkey. Officials at manufacturing union Amicus had hoped that a detailed rescue plan, which accepted the need for job cuts but forecast substantial profits next year, would be accepted by the company.

Federal Mogul's top bosses, union officials, and Mr Sutcliffe met at the DTI last month to discuss the rescue proposals with Jacqui Smith, Minister for Industry and the Regions.

But, today, Andrew Locke, the factory's managing director, the union's plan would not help stem losses.

"We've all worked hard to try to find a way out of this situation," he said.

"Unfortunately, the reality is that there is no longer a long-term and sustainable future for our pistons business here in Bradford.

"What we need to do now is move on to discussing severance terms and the timing of the closure. That will be our focus over the coming weeks."

The business, formerly called Hepworth and Grandage, was once one of the leading lights of Bradford's engineering industry and employed up to 4,000 people at its height in the 1960s.

It had been preparing to celebrate its centenary in a few years, but it is now likely to be gradually scaled down over the coming months.

Mr Sutcliffe, who once worked at the factory, said that Federal Mogul's decision to close it would be raised in a parliamentary debate next week.

"It looks like they were not prepared to look constructively at what the union put forward," he said.

"I find it disappointing because Yorkshire Forward was on stand by to help out. I thought we had the basis of an agreement but clearly they are not interested in investing in Bradford.

"It is a commercial decision at the end of the day, but this is a company where the workforce had done everything to be flexible and there were alternatives to be considered."

Amicus convenor Harry Copland, a worker at the plant for 30 years, said he was "angry and frustrated" at the firm's decision.

"I think we have wasted eight weeks pursuing a plan that the company had no intention of looking at," he said.

"They have as much as said that, no matter what we did, no more work would be coming here. If they had told us that before, we might have pursued a different strategy."

He said the union would now focus on securing the best deal for its members.

Amicus divisional officer Dick Croft said he would meet Mr Sutcliffe next week to discuss the problems facing British manufacturing.

He said yesterday's announcement followed statements from major car makers that they would no longer buy parts from Britain because of the high cost of labour.

"It is a very sad day for a famous Bradford company which was once a leader in technology," he said. "Unfortunately, history and tradition is not going to give us a living."

Roland Clark, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said he understood the "competitive environment" Federal Mogul had been operating in.

But he said: "It seems unfortunate that after the time and effort of the last few weeks, when many people have worked hard to save jobs and secure prosperity, that a future could not be maintained locally for the company."