Fresh hopes over steel plant jobs

There are 1,920 employees at the Teesside plant

A union which represents many of the workers at a threatened Teesside steel plant says it has made a significant breakthrough in a bid to save jobs.

Up to 2,000 jobs at Teesside Cast Products have been at risk since an international consortium pulled out of a deal to buy production at the plant.

The Community union said owners Corus and the consortium would be getting back round the table for talks.

General secretary Michael Leahy said he was pressing to set a date soon.

He said: "It's taken a lot of conversations between Community union, the highest levels of government, Tata, Corus and the consortium but we finally have agreement that the two parties will sit down and try to find a solution that could save the future of Teesside steelmaking."

Mr Leahy added: "We do not know if their meeting will be a party or a wake but the most important point is that all sides enter discussions mindful of the thousands of jobs and the community on Teesside that are depending on a deal."

In May, it was announced the Redcar plant was set to be mothballed after the early end to the contact by four international slab buyers.

The agreement was signed in 2004 and committed the consortium to buy just under 78% of the plant's production for 10 years.

A 90-day consultation period is currently being held.

Internal orders from Corus mean the plant will continue operating until August.