WORKERS facing redundancy at Elementis Chromium have been given fresh hope from development agency One NorthEast.

The agency, which administers government grants across the region, has held talks with Elementis, in Eaglescliffe, near Yarm, over the company's decision to shed more than half of its Teesside workforce.

Ian Williams, head of One NorthEast's business investment and finance team, said the meeting helped to understand Elementis' future business plans.

He said: "We are looking to see if there are any ways in which we can help alleviate any job losses at the company."

Elementis announced last month that it plans to cut 120 jobs from its 230-strong workforce as part of a cost-cutting restructuring programme, which will see production halved at the Urlay Nook plant.

The T&G and Amicus unions have launched a campaign to save jobs and have held regular meetings with their members, who last week voted in favour of industrial action in protest over the decision.

Joe Keith, T&G's senior regional industrial organiser, said: "The company has agreed to make its financial figures available to One NorthEast so they can see if there is anything that can be done to keep the jobs at Eaglescliffe."

David Raw, technical director at Elementis, said last night: "We have welcomed One NorthEast's involvement. Perhaps they can make some suggestion or have something available that may ease the financial position of the company. It is very early days and fuelling false hopes is not in anybody's interest."