STEEL firm Corus has tonight confirmed the planned mothballing of its Redcar plant will now not take place until the end of February.

The plant had been due to close at the end of January, but an extension has been agreed after a week of negotiations between the company and trade unions.

Almost 2,000 workers are facing redundancy when the plant is mothballed.

A joint statement issued tonight by Teesside Cast Products and trade unions said: "Corus has today agreed to the Trade Unions' request to extend operations at Teesside Cast Products (TCP) until all the raw materials currently on site have been consumed, or until the end of February, whichever is first.

"Corus will place internal orders on TCP in order to give at least three weeks of continued operation beyond the end of January.

"During this time the Trade Unions and Corus will jointly explore further opportunities to continue steelmaking on Teesside."