Sir Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick, has already been in contact with management at the Alnwick site and hopes to have face-to-face talks "very soon."

Sir Alan said: "Sanofi Aventis is a vital employer in Alnwick employing highly qualified and skilled people and which plays a key role in the pharmaceutical industry and it is extremely important that its future is secured."

Northumberland County Councillor for Alnwick, Gordon Castle, said: "It is such a successful outfit that one hopes it will continue in its present form.

"The town would be very sorry to see it go. Most businesses would feel some effect from this."

Coun Castle said it would be "a very worrying time" for staff at the site, which he says employs many local people and pays good wages.

"I do feel sorry for those whose jobs seem to be threatened."

Sanofi Aventis has a total of 28 R&D sites worldwide.

It has a base at Fawdon, Newcastle, although that is a manufacturing site and is not thought to be affected by the company’s global remodelling.

Management at the Alnwick site could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

The news comes just after Sanofi Aventis awarded the catering contract for the town base to a new company.

It was revealed on Thursday that Wilson Vale Catering Management was awarded the contract.