Less strategy and more action is needed to rescue Sandwich from a business slump and brain drain when Pfizer leaves the town.

That is the view of the town’s mayor, Cllr Terry Clifford-Amos, who has criticised the Sandwich Economic Task Force for not inviting anyone from the town to join.

Cllr Clifford-Amos said it was surprising neither he, nor any other town councillors, nor anyone from the town’s business community were asked to take part. He felt such input would have been useful.

He said: "It was by invitation only.

"At least I could be present at the Select Committee meeting."

He also criticised the task force for praising its own fast response to the crisis in its report to science minister David Willetts this week.

He said: "While the rhetoric of the report speaks so well of the task force’s initiative, the Pfizer employees and the community within Sandwich are interested in well-paid and sustainable employment."

Cllr Clifford-Amos did commend the task force’s speedy response, compiling its report within 30 days of the drugs giant’s shock exit announcement in February.

He said: "It is a good response, good document, good initiative.

"But in the end the strategy needs to give way to well-paid jobs.

"Hopefully the results of the next meeting may spearhead this need more directly and bring sustainable jobs to Sandwich."

For more, see this week's East Kent and Dover Mercury