THE Prince of Wales returned to Teesside's steel heart yesterday to see for himself a project he instigated to ensure the industry's skills were passed on to the next generation.

He last visited the former Teesside Cast Products plant at Redcar in May last year when it was in the process of being mothballed by previous owner Tata Steel.

Yesterday the Prince was taken inside the plant's blast furnace, the iconic heart of the steel making industry, to see for himself the work being undertaken by new owners Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) which will see it roar back to life on December 8, creating 1,000 new jobs and preserving 700.

He also met teenagers taking part in the Industrial Cadet programme, launched four weeks ago by Tata Steel.

The idea for the project, giving 24 youngsters the chance to take part in an eight week programme aimed at firing their interest in manufacturing and engineering, was generated by the Prince on his previous visit.

Jon Bolton, director of Tata Steel Long Products and the former managing director of the Redcar plant, said: "He mentioned it when he was here over a year ago and we picked that up and ran it.

"In many ways he was responsible for this and it is fantastic he has come back to see it."

One of the youngsters involved, 13-year-old Beth Johnson, a pupil at Rye Hills school in Redcar, said: "It has given me a wider view of how the steel industry works and I am really enjoying it. It is something I wouldn't have thought about before I came and did these few weeks."

On his visit to the blast furnace the Prince was met by a delegation including SSI president Win Viriyaprapaikit, SSI UK chief executive Phil Dryden and SSI project director Derek Thomas, who is overseeing the refurbishment of the site.

The prince also spent several minutes speaking to Sheryl Petite, the partner of multi-union leader Geoff Waterfield and the couple's young son Wills, who were part of the official delegation.

Mr Waterfield, who met the Prince on his visit last year, jokingly asking for a loan to help save the site, and led the Save Our Steel campaign which saw the Thai firm take over the plant in March, died in August, aged just 43.

The Prince was then taken inside the blast furnace to see the renovation work being undertaken and met the team preparing the facility including furnace project manager Peter Whitfield, who had helped build the furnace while an apprentice in 1976.

He said: "We are all dedicated to bringing the furnace back on as quickly as possible.

"I am sure the Prince cares greatly about British heritage and industry and I am sure he will give what support he can."

Another member of Mr Whitfield's team David Black, 29, said: "It is a big honour being a local lad. A lot of my family and friends have involvement with the steelworks so it is great to see it back and to be involved.

"I think people in the local area 100 per cent appreciate the Prince's support and the recognition for a lot of hard work."

Mr Viriyaprapaikit said: "To have a visit by the Royal Family is a very big thing and there could not be any bigger recognition than this.

"It shows the passion that we and our people here have for steelmaking is well recognised by his Royal Highness, we are very proud today.

"When he talked to our people he inquired about where they were working before, whether they used to work here or came from outside, and it was clear a lot of people depend on this project going well and he wishes us well."