The boss of air-filter maker McLeod Russel is upbeat about job security following a £28.1m takeover bid from an American company.

Ian Hazlehurst, chief executive of the Abingdon-based firm, said management was in talks with the US-based SPX Corporation, which has given shareholders an extra week to decide whether to approve the takeover.

McLeod Russel employs ten people at its headquarters at Abingdon Business Park and 1,200 worldwide.

Mr Hazlehurst said: "We are talking to SPX, which has an operation in Newbury, and we hope that a takeover would protect the majority of jobs, although there would be some moving around. We have been discussing with them how we can protect everybody, and we are making good progress."

About 81 per cent of shareholders have already pledged to vote in favour of the tie-up and SPX now has until Friday to persuade the remainder to back the deal. McLeod Russel makes air filters used in hospital operating theatres and industry, as well as specialist coatings for products such as vehicle headlamps.

It operates from nine continental countries including Switzerland, Spain and Italy and has sites in Burnley, East Kilbride, Basingstoke and Ascot.

It also has an industrial liquids arm at Guildford, trading as Cudd Bentley, and a water engineering business at Louth in Lincolnshire.

SPX employs 24,000 staff in more than 20 countries, producing goods including fire detection and building equipment.

William C Griffiths, president of SPX Fluid Systems, said: "We believe McLeod Russel is a great fit with our air treatment business and will enhance our product-offering and geographic presence."