A GWENT Assembly Member insists she will do everything she can to try to save 151 jobs set to be axed from a Gwent sauce company.

The Argus exclusively revealed earlier this week how G Costa of Abercarn had entered a 90-day consultation with employees to close its factory by spring 2008 and take its entire manufacturing operation to Poland.

It makes the Reggae Reggae Sauce made famous on BBC2's Dragon's Den programme after a pitch by Levi Roots impressed millionaire businessman Peter Jones.

The 151 workers at G Costa in Abercarn say they feel "betrayed and angry", while the company is also set to shed 28 jobs in Newtown, mid-Wales.

AM for Islwyn Irene James said: "We will be doing all that we can to ensure the workers are looked after and retain these jobs. It would be a major blow to the area."

Caerphilly council said it would also be working with the Assembly to find out more details of the firm's plan.

A spokesman said: "This is obviously a major concern as job losses of this scale would be a major blow to the whole area."

More than 40 comments were also posted on this website - after we broke the story.

Sheron, from Deri, who works at G Costa, said: "Every one of my colleagues have worked damned hard to make the company the success that it is today and it's only because of this government allowing the fat cats to exploit the poorer countries that its happening."

Samantha, from Abercarn, added: "I can understand the workers' anger. I know a lot of people who work at the sauce factory."

And Bob, from Newport, said: "We should limit the imports from these countries such as Poland as they are damaging us economically."

G Costa's managing director, Andrew Mayhew, says the only way the business can be sustained is by moving to a "lower cost manufacturing operation with more flexibility to make a wider range of products".