Trade Ministers have been attacked by a Coventry MP for failing to keep promises to meet Peugeot managers.

It follows the loss of 850 jobs at Peugeot's plant in Ryton, Coventry - and concern that the factory could close entirely.

Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, a former chief executive of Jaguar, said the Department of Trade and Industry made the pledge back in April, but the talks had still not taken place.

He has written to Alun Michael, the Minister for Industry, saying the delay is "disappointing".

But last night a DTI spokeswoman said: "We are in constant contact with Peugeot."

DTI officials promised union leaders and local MPs that they would discuss the future of the plant with Peugeot chairman Jean-Martin Folz, at a crisis meeting four months ago to discuss the job losses.

It came just a year after the night shift was ended at the expense of 700 workers.

Local MPs and union leaders had been particularly keen to obtain reassurances from Mr Folz because of deep concerns about the plant's long term future.

The plant produces the Peugeot 206, but there is no guarantee future models will be built there.

In his letter, Mr Robinson said: "It is disappointing your officials have not yet met Jean-Martin Folz. We understood that the meeting had already taken place.

"Yes, it is good news that the 206 will continue for a few years yet.

"But the point is that, given the lean times in the motor industry, decisions must be taken now if a programme is to be introduced in time for the 206's phase out.

"There is no room for complacency. Coventry has lost Jaguar, Massey Ferguson and Stadco and faces severe reductions at Marconi."

The MP urged Mr Michael to meet him and other city MPs when Parliament returns in September.

A spokeswoman for the DTI said: "We have been talking and meeting with the most senior Peugeot managers in the UK constantly.

"We agree it is important to engage with Peugeot, and we have been talking to the company at a very high level. We have good constructive discussions to date.

"The DTI will be finalising arrangements with Mr Folz shortly. It has taken time to arrange this, but we have been in frequent contact with Peugeot."

More than a million manufacturing jobs have vanished in Britain in the last eight years.

Household names in the West Midlands which have either reduced dramatically in size or disappeared include MG Rover, Massey Ferguson, Jaguar, Alstom, Goodyear and Waterford-Wedgwood.