THE shadow of the axe is hanging over more Teesside jobs after BP announced it was planning to close its polyethylene operations at Wilton, with the loss of more than 80 jobs.

Consultations are taking place with the 81 BP employees who work at the plant, and the company has committed itself to helping them to find new jobs.

The news is yet another jobs blow for Teesside, which is still reeling from recent job losses in the steel and shipbuilding industries at Corus and Cammell Laird.

Some of the Wilton workers may be able to transfer to other BP locations where they have the appropriate skills, while re-training and job search assistance will be provided for others.

However, those employees could find themselves having to move to Aberdeen, Hull or as far away as China for continued employment with the company.

The polyethylene plant was built in 1973, and was acquired from ICI in 1981. BP didn't take over the actual operation of the plant until 1996.

It manufactures polyethylene for use by customers working in a wide range of products, including plastic food bags and plastic film applications.

Donald Austin, site manager at BP Wilton, said: "It is with deep regret that we have to make this announcement.

"It comes despite the efforts of everyone at the site to embrace the changes implemented at the site in recent years."

He added: "In a highly competitive market, it has been increasingly difficult to maintain profitability at the plant.

"The plant's age and related high costs of production and maintenance combined with competition from newer, larger plants have made Wilton unprofitable and led to this decision."

A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union, which represents workers at the Wilton site, said: "We are shocked by BP's decision to pull out of Wilton and we will be seeking meeting with the management of BP about the future of staff at the site."

The leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, councillor David Walsh, also expressed his regret at the BP decision.

He said: "This is another blow for Teesside's economic base, and one that follows hard on the heels of similar announcements at Corus and Cammell Laird."

In line with BP's commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates, BP Wilton will continue with a programme of community activities for the next three years.

It will endeavour to ensure that these projects are sustainable beyond that point.