Talks to try and save steel plant

There are 1,920 employees at the Teesside plant

A support group has pledged to try and land contracts for an under-threat Teesside steel plant.

Corus is planning to mothball the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant in Redcar after four international steel slab buyers ended a contract.

If the plan goes ahead around 1,920 employees will be made redundant.

On Tuesday, the company, trade unions job experts and members of the public and private sector met to discuss the future of the plant.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of regional development agency One North East, said: "Corus is a viable concern, a business committed to its workforce and the Tees Valley and we have confidence in its future.

"We do have to plan for all possible scenarios and have begun work to analyse staff numbers, skills and future requirements.

'New orders'

"This is to ensure that if redundancies have to be made in the future, that every person affected will be given the best possible package of support to find new work and opportunities.

"The group will look at every possible option to support Corus in its bid to find new orders for the company."

He said he had also already had discussions with the North East minister Nick Brown.

Bosses at the Teesside plant have announced the start of a 90-day consultation period with staff following the loss of a supply deal with a consortium.

Redcar MP Vera Baird said: "The message is that the public sector and businesses have joined the fight with Government to save this very viable, profitable plant given the quality of its product and the skills and dedication of its workforce."