UP to 450 jobs at Glasgow's biggest engineering firm were today still in doubt despite the collapse of the £48million sale to a Swiss rival.

Scots entrepreneur Jim McColl is now in talks in a bid to negotiate a multi-million pound buy-up of Weir Pumps after the takeover talks with Sulzer collapsed.

The unexpected emergence of Mr McColl as a possible new owner of the stricken industrial pumpmaker today triggered hopes of a major jobs lifeline following fears Sulzer would have axed up to 450 jobs.

Mr McColl, owner of Clyde Blowers, has in the past expressed his interest in Weir Pumps and has spoken of his desire to continue running the business as a going concern.

His declaration was in sharp contrast to that of the Swiss. It was always felt that Sulzer simply wanted to remove a rival from the market place by switching much of the production from Glasgow to its own manufacturing site in Leeds.

The unions were concerned and their claims that up to 450 of the existing 596 jobs would be lost were never denied by Weir executives or the Swiss.

And there are fears today that the job losses would go ahead.

Clyde Blowers group today confirmed that it is in talks about the possible acquisition of Weir Pumps.

Mr McColl said: "I have had a conversation with chairman Sir Robert Smith, as a result of which we are now in discussions with Weir Group. These discussions are confidential and I can go into no more detail at present."

That led to renewed hope today that Mr McColl can negotiate a successful takeover and protect jobs after he was contacted by Weir Group chairman Sir Robert Smith.

Union official Kenny Jordan of Amicus today said: "I've spoken to McColl before. He was keen to buy Weir Pumps if possible and he seems very able.

"I'd much prefer to talk to McColl if there is any possibility that he will keep more jobs in Scotland and particularly Glasgow."

Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon urged the firm to "pursue any option" which would result in jobs being saved.

The latest development is in sharp contrast with the earlier confidence by Weir executives of concluding a deal with the Swiss this week.

Instead, a statement released to the London Stock Market last night revealed talks had collapsed.

The statement added: "A number of options relative to the future plans for Weir Pumps will be considered over the next few weeks.

"The most probable outcome is an investment in a dedicated facility located in Glasgow to manufacture spares for Weir's global markets."

Weir's have already sold its historic Cathcart site to a house builder for £25million at a time when bosses had claimed the workforce was to move to a new custom-built manufacturing site in the Glasgow area.

Corporate services director Alan Mitchelson said: "We'll consider the options over the next few weeks and give a decision as soon as possible.

"In terms of what we think the probable outcome will be, we think the approximate number of 450 redundancies is probably not far off the mark."