A STEELWORKS boss last night reassured workers and neighbours that his plant was safe.

Les Graham, director of Weardale Steel foundry, in Wolsingham, County Dur-ham, spoke out ahead of a council meeting to consider whether to pay for an air quality study.

Wear Valley District Council is obliged to consider a study as part of a nationwide shake-up overseen by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

A preliminary study carried out by consultants Faber Maunsell highlighted the steelworks as a potential concern, although it stressed there was no cause for alarm and no risk to health.

No air quality sampling was undertaken for the study - experts examined previously available data - and now the authority must decide if it is to commission a wider study that will cost more than £30,000.

Mr Graham said the plant already took measures to reduce its impact on the atmosphere and abided by strict environmental guidelines.

He said: "We currently hold all the licences we need to operate, which require strict control of our production processes.

"We are working on a plan of action to ensure we are well above standard by 2010 and are investing in even better filtering equipment."

He said the study was based on theoretical emissions from the plant if melting and blasting of steel was to take place around the clock.

However, at Weardale Steel the five ton furnace is only fired up for about four hours, two or three times a week.

"It is only because we have one large furnace that we are being looked at. But the level of its use is actually more environmentally friendly than other plants which use smaller furnaces more regularly," said Mr Graham.

"I'm fully confident that this company does not harm the environment or health of local people and if actual air tests were carried out they would prove that.

"Weardale Steel can go a long way and be very successful with the support of local people and organisations."