UNIONS issued a last-ditch plea yesterday to save thousands of jobs at a Teesside steel plant, warning that the livelihoods of thousands of families are at stake.

SSI has announced a “pause” in iron and steelmaking at its plant in Redcar as well as the mothballing of one of its coke ovens, raising fears about the future of the area’s steel industry.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss said he and local MPs had written to SSI asking what help the company needs from the government.

“The wall of silence from SSI is causing deep distress among our members and their families and the entire community that depends on Teesside steel.”

Mr Rickhuss, who also chairs the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, said workers “stand ready to assist the company in helping to build a sustainable and profitable future.”

He added: “If the silence and inaction doesn’t end soon then it may prove too late to save our steel.”