Summary

  • Updates on Monday 12 October 2015

  • News, sport and travel updates resume at 08:00 Tuesday

  1. 'Lack of political will' to save SSI Redcarpublished at 16:00

    Anna Turley added: "We thought the government would be listening, but we've been proved wrong.

    "I'm trying not to be cynical, and thinking this was where they were going all the way through, I'm trying to believe the best, that they did want to think about alternative options, but the lack of political will has been very disappointing, and certainly the lack of engagement from the official receiver is beyond disappointing."

  2. Redcar steel plant: 'It's gone, it's over'published at 15:55

    Redcar Labour MP Anna Turley continued: "I will fight as long as there's hope alive, but the message I just got very very clearly (from the official receiver) was 'I'm sorry, it's gone, it's over, I'm sorry, it's hard closure'.

    She added there was no indication from the government there could be debates, or questions to the Prime Minister. 

    But she did say there would be a public inquiry into how it was allowed to get to this stage.

  3. Coke ovens closing 'the end of Teesside steel'published at 15:51

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  4. Government money 'would not have gone to Thai banks'published at 15:47

    More from a clearly angry Labour MP, Redcar's Anna Turley:

    "I spoke to the minister on the phone but I don't agree with them that most of the money would go to the Thai banks, when currently it's owned by the Crown.

    "There were ways the government could've stepped in as a national asset on the basis of research and development, the environment, health and safety, there were a number of ways they could have stepped in the keep that plant alive. I'm furious."

    Anna Turley
  5. SSI: The Official Receiver's statementpublished at 15:43

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  6. Redcar steel plant 'could have been saved'published at 15:39

    There were options to save the Redcar steel plant, the town's Labour MP says.

    Anna Turley said: "There were options on the table, talk of making foundry coke, different things to keep it going, there were lots of options and they're just not interested.

    "These guys (the receivers) wouldn't talk to anyone. I'm just angry on behalf of all the people that have worked there, worked so hard to keep it going.

    "We've got so much fight, people who have ideas, worked desperately to save it, and it's going to cost money to have a hard closure."

  7. SSI receiver 'never interested' in a dealpublished at 15:36

    The SSI receiver was never really interested in keeping the Redcar steel plant open, the Redcar MP claims.

    Labour MP Anna Turley said: I'm just angry at the moment, I can't believe al this has been allowed to go, all the history and heritage and potential for the site.

    "I feel the government has thrown the towel in, I feel the Official Receiver was never interested in talking to anyone or listening to any deals, or any other options to keep it going."

  8. Coke ovens 'must be closed safely'published at 15:32

    The priority now is to close down the Redcar coke ovens safely, the Official Receiver says.

    Ken Beasley said: "SSI was placed into liquidation with substantial debts and had no funds available to purchase the coal needed to keep the coking ovens operational. 

    Redcar steel worksImage source, PA

    "I have ensured the continued operation of the ovens whilst I dealt with health and safety issues and considered whether there were any viable offers for the ovens. 

    "There is no realistic prospect of a buyer being found and the priority now is to close the ovens down safely."

  9. Labour MP: 'The Government has abandoned Teesside'published at 15:28

    The government have "sat on their hands while thousands of people have lost their jobs", a Labour MP claims.

    Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, reacted angrily to the news the coke ovens will close for good.   

    He said: "The government have sat on their hands while thousands of people have lost their jobs, there was a viable offer on the table to maintain the coke ovens but the Government failed to listen, they just went through the motions. 

    "The Government has abandoned Teesside."

  10. Blenkinsop: Redcar coke ovens closure 'devastating'published at 15:23

    The closure of the coke ovens and blast furnace at the Redcar steelworks is "devastating", an MP says.

    Tom Blenkinsop, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Steel, said. “This is devastating news for the 2,200 workers who have lost their jobs, my thoughts go out to those who have lost their jobs and their families. 

    "This is a dark day for Teesside and East Cleveland, the repercussions will be felt through the supply chain and the local economy."

  11. Even more jobs to go as Redcar SSI plant shutspublished at 15:19

    Even more jobs will be cut at the Redcar steel plant after it was confirmed the coke ovens will close.

    The Official Receiver says he will continue to monitor the number of staff required "to safely manage the site in a closure situation".

    But a statement said: "Unfortunately, staff numbers will decline as the closure plan progresses."

  12. End of the steel industry on Teessidepublished at 15:14

    John Foster
    Presenter, BBC Tees

    It's the news we feared - the end of the steel industry on Teesside.

    So many people worked so hard to keep this going.

    All those people who work in the supply chain, their jobs will be gone.

    It's a very sad day.

  13. Coke ovens to close 'due to no viable offers'published at 15:10
    Breaking

    BBC Tees
    www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

    The coke ovens and blast furnace at the Redcar steelworks are to be closed after no viable offers were received from potential buyers, the Official Receiver has said.

    The coke ovens were kept alight over the weekend as the Insolvency Service sought someone to keep them going.

    The Official Receiver, Ken Beasley, said: “I cannot continue to draw on taxpayers funds to keep the ovens operational when there is no realistic prospect that a buyer will be found.

    “I thank the staff who have been involved in the continued operation of the company and recognise the great efforts that have been put in and the professionalism shown by people in a time of enormous personal pressure.”

  14. Redcar coke ovens to be closedpublished at 15:07

    The Government Insolvency Service has announced that the Redcar Coke Ovens are to be closed.

  15. Image released after train station 'racist abuse'published at 14:18 British Summer Time 12 October 2015

    A CCTV image of a suspect has been released after two children were subjected to a racist rant as they waited on a train platform.

    British Transport Police said the victims, aged 12 and 14, were targeted as they waited for a train at Sunderland station at about 13:30 on 30 August. 

    SuspectImage source, British Transport Police

    A BTP spokesman said: "If you recognise the man pictured or know his current whereabouts please contact us.”

  16. Report due into MH17 crashpublished at 14:05

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  17. Surprise return of stolen Roman headpublished at 13:59

    Part of a Roman statue stolen from a museum on Hadrian's Wall has made a surprise return.

    The fragment of the head of a young male was taken in June, after being forcibly wrenched from an open display at Vindolanda Fort., external

    Stolen fragmentImage source, Vindolanda Trust

    It was left by an anonymous person on Friday at the doorway of a site excavation building.

    The museum described its discreet return as a "huge and delightful surprise".

  18. Charity volunteer honoured for 39 years' workpublished at 13:35

    A volunteer with the NSPCC was presented with a British Empire Medal at a special church service.

    Olga Bainbridge from Shildon in County Durham was awarded the medal in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

    Olga is a longstanding member of the congregation at St John’s Shildon. The vicar, the Rev David Tomlinson, said: “Olga has shaped her life around faith that involves caring for the vulnerable.”

    Olga Bainbridge and the Lord Lieutenant of Durham, Sue Snowden, and the British Empire MedalImage source, Diocese of Durham

    Olga was presented with the award by Sue Snowdon, the Lord Lieutenant of Durham, during a service.

    She's raised thousands of pounds over 39 years organising charity events all over the North East

  19. Your photos: Scarlet fruitfulness in the parkpublished at 13:24

    Carolyn Farthing took this picture of a red cap toadstool in Pow Hill Country Park.   

    We like to show everyone the best of your pictures - you can get in touch by @BBCNewsNE, externalemail us or contact us through our Facebook page, external.

    A red cap toadstool, with its characteristic white patchesImage source, Carolyn Farthing