Redcar SSI: Two hurt in fire on former steelworks site

Two people have been injured in a fire on a former steelworks site on Teesside

Two people have been injured in a fire on a former steelworks site.

Fire crews were called to the former coke ovens at the SSI site in South Bank, between Middlesbrough and Redcar, at about 14:15 BST.

The site has been evacuated and a cordon has been extended to 250m (820ft) away.

Cleveland Police said it is unable to confirm the "specific level of injury at this stage". The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

The fire was ongoing but "contained" and firefighters were to remain on the scene overnight, said the force, adding it had been "declared a major incident".

"There are no residential addresses in the cordoned area and no danger to members of the public."

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said it was "monitoring the situation closely".

A statement added: "Engineers on-site are working closely with the emergency services who are at the scene and working with the Health and Safety Executive."

The steelworks announced its closure in 2015 when its Thai-based owners went into liquidation and 2,200 workers lost their jobs.

In January, a deal was agreed to transfer more than half of the developable land at the former Redcar Steelworks to the South Tees Development Corporation.