UNION CONFIDENT ABOUT FUTURE OF STEEL PLANT

Steel workers have been meeting in Newport to discuss their future after the city's Alphasteel factory closed. The workforce of over 300 people was sent home just days before Christmas, after the plant was put into administrative receivership.
General secretary of the union Community, Michael Leahy, told the gathering that he still remained confident about the plant's future. Administrators have said there is widespread interest in the factory. Mr Leahy, whose union represents many of those employed at Alphasteel, insisted that the steel industry remains big business.