REGENERATION chiefs mapping out a way forward for Teesside in the wake of 750 job losses at a former British Steel plant are to draw on expertise from across the country.

A Government task force met earlier this week to devise a strategy which will tackle both the short-term impact of job losses on workers at Corus Teesside and the need for measures to help boost Teesside.

Colin Moore, chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, described it as a very positive first meeting, but added it will be mid-October before the full scale of the job losses will be known.

"What we agreed to do was to begin putting in place the support and advice services so when we do know the detailed picture we can move quickly to help the individuals involved," he said.

Mr Moore said the group plans to talk to other task forces in the country to learn from their experiences.

One of the most successful task forces was the team assembled to find a buyer for the Fujitsu plant in Newton Aycliffe. The former microchip factory is now manufacturing components for mobile phones.

Members of the Fujitsu team have compiled a dossier to help other areas, which could become a blueprint for the Teesside initiative.

Officials from the Rover task force, assembled to help the Midlands cope with the threat to Britain's last volume car maker, may also be able to help