Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to meet the head of France’s Peugeot Group to discuss the planned takeover of Vauxhall in the UK.

Peugeot wants to buy General Motors’ loss-making European arm, which includes Vauxhall plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port.

There are fears that the deal could lead to job losses.

Peugeot boss Carlos Tavares is also set to hold talks with Unite union leader, Len McCluskey, to discuss the matter.

Vauxhall employs 4,500 workers at the two plants, with thousands more involved in its retail and components chain.

A Downing Street spokesman said a request for a meeting with Mr Tavares had been received, adding: “The meeting will take place, in principle, subject to diary availability.”

Unite general secretary Mr McCluskey said he was pleased Mr Tavares had “responded speedily and positively” to his request for a meeting to discuss Peugeot’s intentions.

He said he would use the meeting to press the case for the UK’s “world class facilities and workforce”, and ensure Mr Tavares understood that Luton, Toddington and Ellesmere Port, and thousands of dedicated UK workers, deserved “a strong backer and a positive future”.

On Friday, Business Secretary Greg Clark said he had held “constructive” talks in France with the PSA Group board and French industry minister Christophe Sirugue.

On Tuesday PSA, which already works with General Motors in Europe on several projects, announced a takeover was among “numerous strategic initiatives being considered”.