Labour councillors in Birmingham are urging Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to step up his efforts to keep Cadbury at Bournville.

Last week when visiting the city Lord Mandelson said the Government believed any firm seeking to take over the world-famous chocolate maker should be prepared to give a long term commitment to the workforce and not try to make a “quick buck” by moving production abroad.

He was speaking in the light of a controversial bid by US food giant Kraft to acquire the historic Bournville-based firm.

Labour fears that the Kraft bid, if successful, could eventually lead to the end of Cadbury’s long association with Birmingham.

In 1993 Kraft bought Terry’s, the York-based confectioner, and by 2005 had moved production to Poland resulting in the loss of more than 300 jobs.

In a letter to Lord Mandelson, Birmingham City Council’s opposition Labour group said: “We welcome your recognition of the heritage and values imbued in Cadbury and the impact the company has on the local environment in Bournville.

“There is a sense of quality and traditional values that is tangible even to visitors to the area.”

Labour leader Sir Albert Bore said he recognised that the Business Secretary did not have the power to block a takeover.

But he called on Lord Mandelson to continue sending out strong messages to Kraft that Cadbury should “not go the same way as Terry’s”.

The letter added: “We urge you to continue to balance the wellbeing of the Cadbury community with the economic wellbeing of the world famous Cadbury brand.”