Executives from the Nanjing Automobile Corporation will meet community leaders to discuss plans for re-starting car production at the former MG Rover site at Longbridge.

The meeting at the end of the month is being organised by Birmingham City Council and will involve councillors and Northfield representatives. Judith Parry-Evans, of Regeneration South-West Birmingham, said the Chinese company wanted to talk to people affected by MG Rover's demise.

Nanjing said at the end of August it was seeking partners to build the TF sports car and develop the EU 1V at Longbridge. But the company wants to dismantle tooling and equipment for the Rover 75 and 25 models and ship it to China.

Ms Parry-Evans said: " Nanjing want to meet community leaders to convey their ambitions and plans."

She said in the three meetings so far with Nanjing the council had underlined a keenness to work to produce an outcome "to the benefit of south-west Birmingham and further afield."

Northfield councillor Randall Brew hit out at "insensitive" media coverage which he believed caused false rumours and could damage relations.

Coun Brew (Con) added: "There was always going to be ill-feeling following the closure of MG Rover. The spirit of the Austin died that day. Nanjing bought the company in an open market and we have to work with them."

Male unemployment in Northfield is 12.3 per cent, up from 7.8 per cent in February.

Former MG Rover workers seeking financial advice from the city council are in debt an average £9,500. Three-quarters of businesses within a quarter of a mile of the plant have reported a fall in turnover.