The families of the Corus steelworkers who died in a massive explosion at Port Talbot have had a private meeting with Prince Charles.

The prince was visiting the site on Monday to officially open the rebuilt blast furnace number five.

Len Radford was one of the three victims of the explosion

Three died and a further 12 workers were injured in the explosion on 8 November 2001.

Prince Charles said the new �75m furnace was a tribute to all the company's employees, adding that his heart went out to all those affected by the explosion.

The furnace was relit on 2 January, 14 months after the blast killed workers Stephen Galsworthy, 26, Andrew Hutin, 20, and Len Radford, 53.

It will have an output of 1.5m tonnes per year which, together with the number four blast furnace, will provide Port Talbot with an annual iron output of some 3.4m tonnes.

During his visit, the prince also met senior Corus staff, trade union representatives and charity workers.

"My heart went out to all those families whose relations lost their lives and to the injured," he said.

Stephen Galsworthy also died in the blast

"I do realise just what a terrible blow it was for everyone here in the company and, more importantly, for the community," he added.

Later, the prince performed the official opening of the Neath Port Talbot hospital - the first in Wales to be built under a private finance initiative.

The facility, which started operating in December, replaces the former Neath and Port Talbot General Hospitals.

Later Prince Charles will mark the 175th anniversary of the University of Wales in Lampeter with an official visit.

The reconstruction of the blast furnace at Port Talbot has been completed ahead of schedule and in a climate of cutbacks and closures by Corus.

The Prince opened the hospital

Thousands of jobs have been lost at Corus plants in Newport, Shotton, north Wales, and Gorseinon, near Swansea under a closure programme announced almost exactly two years ago.

But the Port Talbot plant escaped cutbacks and Corus has strengthened its commitment to the site with this latest investment.

Corus has admitted civil liability for the fatal explosion and now faces an estimated �1m compensation payout.

Interim payments to relatives of the victims have already been made.

An investigation into the blast by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is due to be completed this year.

Preliminary findings have shown the blast may have been caused by water in the furnace.