A GLIMMER of hope has emerged with news that the government is backing the idea of a task force to tackle the impact of major steel job losses.

Local MPs, council and business leaders all welcomed the announcement that Trade and Industry Secretary Mr Stephen Byers has agreed to the formation of a special unit for Teesside.

The move follows talks in London between Mr Byers and a local delegation led by Redcar MP and Cabinet minister Dr Mo Mowlam.

Also in the deputation were Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Dr Ashok Kumar, Stockton South MP Mrs Dari Taylor and Redcar and Cleveland council leader Coun David Walsh.

It is hoped the task force will be able to co-ordinate the efforts of both government departments and regional and local agencies in tackling the needs of more than 700 steel workers hit by the recently-announced Corus cutbacks and the wider economic needs of the whole area.

The jobs bombshell earlier this month sparked the plea for a task force and a united front in declarations the region will fight back.

In recent weeks, Corus has announced the closure of its research operation at Grangetown, rapidly followed by news that a further 500 local jobs could go in a new round of cuts.

Dr Mowlam said the meeting with Mr Byers had been useful and productive. "It was a major first step along the road to bringing help to families and communities devastated by cutbacks."

Dr Kumar felt the move would give hope to all those hit by the Corus announcements.

Coun Walsh wanted to see a strategy to offer immediate help to people facing redundancy and help create new - and wider - job opportunities.

Coun Bob Gibson, chairman of the Tees Valley development company, underlined the need for a 'properly joined-up approach' to tackling the aftermath of the cutbacks.

"The fact we have been able to move so quickly and press the case for a task force to Stephen Byers shows how well the area can work together."

Newly-appointed Tees Valley partnership chairman Mr Alistair Arkley also stressed the importance of involving a wide range of interests in developing the work of the task force.

Mrs Taylor said: "The need is for action which will give families the confidence that the task force is not about words, but real actions that will give them a positive future of paid employment.