TWO MPs whose constituencies are affected by the E.ON pullout today pledged to do all they could for the workers - and to ensure that the Wherstead Park site was soon back in use.

TWO MPs whose constituencies are affected by the E.ON pullout today pledged to do all they could for the workers - and to ensure that the Wherstead Park site was soon back in use.

South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo was surprised to hear about the decision. He said: “This is desperately sad for everyone who is connected with E.ON and I'll be do anything I can to help find jobs.

“And it is very important to find another organisation to take over Wherstead Park - I will be talking to Babergh to see what kind of help we could get to ensure a new occupant is found for the building as soon as possible.

“That is an important site, and quite prominent in the area. We have to hope that a new owner is found as soon as possible.”

Ipswich MP Chris Mole has many of the E.ON workers living in his constituency - and there is a shuttlebus linking Wherstead Park with the town during the day.

He said: “This is a major blow for the constituency, and it is difficult to absorb 339 job losses just like that. I shall be talking to E.ON and to other employers to find out what can be done to help.

“When there was the last round of job loses, those affected were able to find other jobs - but those working at Wherstead now are highly-skilled comparatively well paid staff and this news will come as a big blow to them.”

The loss of 339 well-paid jobs at Wherstead is likely to take more than £10 million a year out of the local economy - and even if those affected do find alternative work they will take up jobs that would otherwise have gone to other people.