Hundreds of jobs to go as Tata cuts back in Britain

Up to 500 jobs are to be axed from three Tata steel plants in the UK as the Indian-owned company reacts to long-term low demand, particularly from the construction industry.

The main casualty will be Scunthorpe, where more than 300 jobs are at risk. The GMB union said the news came out of the blue and pointed that out 1,000 jobs went at the plants earlier this year.

Karl Köhler, chief executive of Tata Steel's European operations, said: "European steel demand this year is expected to be only two-thirds of pre-crisis levels. Rules covering energy and the environment in Europe and the UK threaten to impose huge additional costs on the steel industry."