WORKERS at a North Yorkshire power plant have urged MPs to help save their jobs.

Energy creation at Eggborough power plant could stop from 2015, with 800 jobs at risk, after Government funding for a biomass conversion fell through.

Workers from the plant have written to local MPs, saying: “We at Eggborough are very proud to have ‘kept the lights on’ for the last 40 years and we wish to continue to help meet the needs of the UK and avert capacity crunch and blackout fears.

“Please look into this matter and let us know if there is anything you can do to help.”

Kevin Coyne, from Unite union, said not converting Eggborough would be “an act of industrial vandalism that puts Britain’s energy security at risk”.

He said: “The coalition’s energy policy is flawed. Coal fired power stations are closing and there are not enough replacements, yet energy secretary Ed Davey seems content to lose four per cent of the UK’s energy capacity in one fell swoop.”

Gary Smith, national officer of the GMB, said the plant had tried to “do the right thing” by moving to renewables, but had got “a kick in the teeth in return”.

Paul Tomlinson, head of operations at Eggborough, said he was “extremely surprised” funding was not granted to the plant, and conversations with the Government on why the conversion was not supported “have unfortunately not clarified our understanding of the outcome”.

He said: “We recognise that the future of the station has consequences for our workforce, our supply chain and the UK as a whole in terms of energy security and energy bills. Working with unions, workforce, suppliers and stakeholders we are making all efforts to secure a positive outcome.

“With political will, the significant investment, employment and energy security opportunities of this project can still be fully realised, but is in the hands of ministers.”