Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was yesterday warned to listen to Swan Hunter workers as they descended on Westminster to campaign to save 1,500 jobs on the Tyne.

Union leaders and workers travelled to Parliament in a bid to pressure the Government into finding ways of helping the Wallsend company, which is struggling to fill an 18-month gap in its order book.

Just weeks after Mr Hoon said he would help the shipyard "if he could", workers added their own voice to the campaign, saying skills had to be retained in the region if the UK is to continue as a leading figure in the global shipbuilding industry.

Heading a delegation to Westminster, GMB Northern regional secretary Tom Brennan said: "We are losing jobs now and are not sure how long people are willing to wait until the aircraft carrier contracts come on stream."

Ministers have previously ruled out any financial aid for Swan Hunter, but following a meeting with three local MPs, headed by Newcastle East's Nick Brown, Mr Hoon said he would look at ways of finding a solution.

The company faces a £40m hole in its accounts after a contract to build the £160m Largs Bay and Lyme Bay vessels ran over budget.

The problem is exacerbated by a gap in the order book between 2006 and 2008 when work on the current landing craft ends and work on the two £2.9bn naval aircraft carriers begins.

Mr Brennan urged the Ministry of Defence to bring forward the carrier work as soon as possible, warning: "The potential for the future here is monumental but Swan's has to be around to take advantage of it."

Mr Brown is trying to secure a meeting with Trade and Industry ministers and with the Treasury to push the campaign further and said last night: "No one is asking for a cash handout here, we just want some help from the Government."

Blaydon's John McWilliam said: "You need to give a little forethought to the way you distribute contracts because that could solve this problem entirely."