Jobs are lost at steelmaker Corus

The steel manufacturer Corus is to shed 56 jobs at its Northamptonshire plant.

The firm said the losses at the Corby site, which employs 850 people, were connected to a business restructuring and not the economic downturn.

About 49 jobs at Hartlepool and 41 in the Netherlands are also set to go, the company said.

MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire Phil Hope said he was disappointed by the news and called on the company to work closely with local job agencies.

Nick Clarke, acting managing director of Corus Tubes, said: "It is regrettable that we need to propose redundancies. However, we need to make these changes in order to strengthen our business and address the challenging market conditions we face.

"Our priority is to keep all our employees up to date with the changes and help them, and their families, through this difficult time."

The company said it had begun consultation with employees and their trade union representatives.