Northern Ireland's Construction & Property Group issued a fresh warning to MLAs returning to Stormont today - to put their differences aside and urgently work together to save thousands of workers from losing their jobs by Christmas.

In a major step-up for its campaign, members of the group, who represent hundreds of developers, builders, contractors and suppliers left devastated by the property downturn, told Assembly members that there was little time left to act.

The group has also asked for further collaboration from local banks, to counteract problems in the ailing market.

Construction & Property Group spokesman Brendan Cunnane, who described the industry as being in "chaos" said: "Workers from right across Northern Ireland already have soaring fuel, food and mortgage bills to worry about and this grim fear that their jobs could disappear by the New Year is making their plight even more unbearable.

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"It's time to stop burying our heads in the sand and do something."

MLAs were told of the key part they can play in safeguarding livelihoods, by devising a clear action plan.

The group also wants pressure to be placed on local banks to cooperate.

Mr Cunnane said: "Given the vast levels of funding that has been provided by the banks to builders and developers until the latter part of last year their continuing reluctance to engage constructively with their customers is astonishing.

"It's important that the Assembly understands just how much we need and depend on a viable, productive construction industry."

The Construction & Property Group said its members had already been forced to lay off more than 2,500 staff since the downturn got under way a year ago.

It believes this figure will double by Christmas if efforts are not made to stabilise the market.

The organisation is urging all the major financial institutions to ensure that affordable mortgages are available, particularly to first-time buyers, and is calling for an urgent review of the Comprehensive Spending Review by the Executive to ensure social housing investment and shared equity schemes are more widely available.

See: Builders Group To Lobby Ministers At Stormont

(PR/JM)