MORE than 1,000 people have already backed our campaign to save Terry's - just over a week after the shock news broke that the chocolate factory is set to close.

Signatures are continuing to come in for our petition, which calls for a Terry's chocolate factory to remain in the York area.

Messages of support from around the world have been received by our website www.thisisyork.co.uk on a daily basis.

Ken Dale, of Bishophill, York, wrote to say simply: "Terry's. The best factory in the world. Keep it going."

Former Terry's worker Mrs J K Turner wrote from Somerset to say that, as a person who was born and bred in York but had moved to Minehead to be nearer her family, she was "horrified and saddened" by the news. She added that she missed being able to obtain Terry's Neapolitan chocolates.

Bridgette Scot phoned from Newcastle upon Tyne to ask for a petition form, saying she had heard about our campaign on BBC Look North and was unhappy about the closure proposals.

Support also came from 86-year-old Doris Garniss, of Heworth, York, who said she had worked at Terry's in the 1930s. "We worked hard, but we enjoyed it. I couldn't believe it when I heard what was happening. I was upset."

Customers calling into shops which sell the Evening Press have also been signing petition forms left on the counter.

Gary Mainprize, of the Maynews shop in Bishopthorpe Road, York, said his form had quickly been filled in by customers, including Terry's employees on their way to work, who were firmly behind the campaign. "People are going mad about it," he said.

Julie Speedie, of Newborough Street, York, wrote to send her good wishes for a "successful and satisfactory outcome" for all the Terry's people in York.

She also suggested that if Kraft Foods went ahead with its proposals to shut the factory and move production abroad, consideration should be given to the setting up of an independent manufacturing company to make products similar to Chocolate Orange.

She said the product would have to be "something similar enough to satisfy existing demand in the home market, but different enough to escape the legal constraints that the powers-that-be would inevitably try to impose."

She said such a business could make use of the highly experienced people made redundant from Terry's with numerous talents and skills in specialist areas.

"I've no doubt we Yorkies would show our usual enthusiasm and local pride in supporting such a product, which would keep York on the map as the chocolate capital of England."

For more petition forms, please phone Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or email mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 14:39 Thursday, April 29, 2004