by business editor Trevor Sturgess

A rescue bid for the Pfizer site at Sandwich has been given top priority by business and council leaders.

They have renewed their plea to the government to designate the area an enterprise zone to help revive jobs after the drug giant pulls out next year.

The shock withdrawal could potentially hit around 5,000 jobs. Pfizer recently announced that it would keep 350 jobs on the site.

An earlier bid for zone status was rejected by the government.

The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Kent, Medway, Essex and East Sussex has filed the new bid, giving it preference over a proposed zone in Harlow, Essex.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Kent and Medway said it was delighted that Discovery Park - the new name for the Pfizer site - was the first preference bid.

The site enjoyed superb office and laboratory facilities and would create "a strong cluster of dynamic and innovative" pharmaceutical and research companies.

An enterprise zone had the potential to attract 100 new companies and create 2,500 jobs.

Roger House, chairman of the 7,000-member FSB in Kent and Medway said: "This is very good news, the economy in East Kent has high levels of unemployment and Thanet is one of the most deprived districts in the country with high levels of unemployment coupled with a high dependency [33 per cent] on public sector jobs."

Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, added: "I believe that the benefits to business of Enterprise Zone status and the massive high-tech potential of Discovery Park will combine perfectly to stimulate new business start ups and urgently-needed new business growth and employment in the area."

The government is expected to make a decision within the next few days.