VITAL talks to protect thousands of jobs across Yorkshire are going on in the aftermath of the Lloyds takeover of HBOS.

And Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman pledged to “fight tooth and nail” to try and save many of the jobs.

Scores of people in Huddersfield work in branches and offices of the two banks and experts believe many of those will disappear from the High Street.

Many more local people work in the HBOS headquarters and administrative centres in Halifax and Mr Sheerman is determined to protect them.

“The main employers in this area are the administrative centres and that is where the real work is done.

“I am saddened by this merger, having tried in the days leading up to it, along with my colleagues, to convince Chancellor Alistair Darling to do all he could to keep HBOS as a separate business.

“It is a sad day for Yorkshire, but we must now lobby and fight to make sure we retain as many jobs as possible in West Yorkshire.”

Calderdale Council’s deputy leader, Clr Stephen Baines, said: “Calderdale Council’s main concern is for the staff who work for HBOS and for those people who have savings and investments with the organisation.

“The council is hopeful that the outcome of any negotiations will protect the interests of these people.”

Officials from the Huddersfield-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce have also been involved in talks with the council to set up a task force to consider how to help mitigate any “drastic” job losses among the bank’s 6,000-strong workforce based in Calderdale.

Steven Leigh, head of policy for the Lockwood-based chamber, said: “HBOS is a major employer. There can be scarcely a single person in Halifax who does not work for the bank, have a relative working for the bank or know someone who works for the bank.”

Mr Leigh said the worrying situation emphasised the “disgraceful” lack of government funding to support business in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

But he said the decision to allow the merger to go ahead was to be welcomed. “At least this was decisive action which will bring stability to the whole of the banking sector.”

Speculation up to 40,000 job losses could follow the deal was described as “on the high side” by Lloyds TSB.