OPERA-singing steelworkers will be joining an international singer in her performance at the Labour Party Conference, in Brighton.

Suzannah Clarke, an ambassador for her home town of Middlesbrough, worked at the steel works in Redcar, east Cleveland, before making a career in opera.

Earlier this year, she returned to the plant to see if any of the workers would take part in a children's opera, organised by the Government-funded arts project, Creative Partnerships Tees Valley.

Nine steelworkers from the steelworks - eight men and one woman - joined up and are now known as Heavy Metal Opera.

Ms Clarke has enlisted the chorus - Graham Dunn, Steve Mitchell, Jonathan Still, Dave Cashman, Davy Hunter, Bob Nunn, Peter Hayden, Andrew Hayden and Sue Johnson - to accompany her in the singing of the traditional Labour Party anthem, the Red Flag, at the Labour conference on Thursday.

They will wear hard hats and T-shirts from their sponsors, steelworkers' union Community, during their performance.

Ms Clarke, who is keen to thank A1 Coaches, of South Bank, near Middlesbrough, for its support, said: "The steelworkers are very excited. They've worked really hard and come to singing lessons after 12-hour shifts at the blast furnace.

"I really admire them. I've warned them it will be quite terrifying with all the TV and press cameras in front of them when they first get on stage.

"But, even though only two of them had sung before, they are really very good. This won't be the last we see of them. I have big plans.

"I am tired of Tees Valley taking a back seat in culture and determined to get something done about it."

Published: 25/09/2004