STEELWORKERS threatened with unemployment have beaten performance records in a bid to prove their worth.

Union bosses at Teesside's endangered Corus plant have revealed that last week was the plant's most productive ever.

The Redcar plant last week turned out 40,000 tonnes of steel, compared to the steelworks' usual weekly output of 37,500.

Mike Mannion, vice-chairman of the Teesside multi-union committee, said: "They are responding very well to the bad news.

"Records are being broken left, right and centre. They are doing everything asked of them and more.

"Everyone is making sure there is no excuse to close them down."

Redcar was plunged into gloom by the news earlier this month that Corus threatened to concentrate production at fewer sites following annual losses of £412m.

Teesside's 3,000 workforce was given a boost last week when a North-East delegation travelled to meet the National Steel Co-ordinating Committee, a forum representing the industry's unions, in London.

Mr Mannion said: "We came up with a seven-point plan detailing what we are looking to do.

"The main thing will be to maintain a big capacity by keeping the big three sites of Teesside, Port Talbot and Scunthorpe open."

Support for the steelworkers has also come from local Labour councillors, who leafleted shoppers in Guisborough at the weekend.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader David Walsh said: "There was overwhelming support from members of the public. After all, everyone has steelworkers in their family or knows people whose jobs could be at risk.

"The word on the streets of Guisborough and East Cleveland is clear - hands off local jobs and support our local workers."