Opponents of the Government decision to close Keighley tax office and others across the district took their fight to Westminster.

A delegation descended on London last Thursday and presented a mocked-up P45 to human resource officials at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Leading the group, Trudy Bates - from the Public and Commercial Services Union - said the battle was not over.

She said: "We were told the decision could be overturned, that it would not be easy but it is not impossible."

The decision to close tax offices in Skipton, Keighley and Shipley was made official in October when HMRC published the outcome of a regional review of its office buildings.

Only an "inquiry centre" would remain in Keighley and most of the 30 workers faced relocation.

The review concluded that seven buildings would house the majority of the department's future operations in the area.

The mocked-up P45 listed the reasons why the closures were wrong and the impact they would have on economies.

Miss Bates added: "It means taking jobs from deprived towns.

"We handed about 1,000 mocked-up CVs to the HR department and we just hope someone will start to take notice of the state the department is in and listen to what people on the ground are trying to tell them.

"Now it is about taking it forward as we cannot be under any illusion the closures will lead to job losses." The closures will be phased in from this autumn.

Cullingworth and Denholme MP Philip Davies, who met the delegation, said savings could be made without cutting jobs.

He said: "If the management of HMRC engaged with people who work in the offices, I am sure savings could be identified. I would suggest stop using external consultants that cost a lot of money, which would be more constructive than job losses.

"Reducing the offices means the general public will get a worse service."