COMMENTS by the chairman of Tata Steel about the "work ethic" of British managers met with a mixed reaction over the weekend.

Indian tycoon Ratan Tata, owner of Tata Group, was reported as saying that nobody was "willing to go the extra mile".

His comments were published a day after Tata Steel announced 390 job losses at North-East plants, and 1,200 in Scunthorpe.

The 73-year-old Harvard-educated businessman, who also owns British-based company Jaguar Land Rover, (JLR), criticised UK managers.

He said: Its a work-ethic issue. In my experience, in both Corus Steel and Jaguar Land Rover, nobody is willing to go the extra mile, nobody.

I feel if you have come from Bombay to have a meeting and the meeting goes till 6pm, I would expect that you wont, at 5 oclock say, sorry, I have my train to catch. I have to go home. Friday, from 3.30pm, you cant find anybody in their office.

However yesterday, he sought to clarify the remarks.

A spokesman for the Tata Group said the comments were about the attitude of managers when Tata acquired the companies in 2006 and 2008 and that Mr Tata was now proud of his current managers.

On Friday Tata Steel announced 300 job are to go from Teesside Beam Mill, in Lackenby, and its Special Profiles site in Skinningrove, both near Redcar. A further 90 jobs will go at its Pipe and Tube Mills in Hartlepool.

Jimmy Skivington, GMB regional organiser which represents workers at Tata, said: I think those comments are disappointing. Hes going round criticising rather than dealing with the real problem. I would just say that the real problem is theres not currently as much demand for steel and the company needed to think strategically. Thats the real issue and these comments are not helpful.

George Dunning, a former steelworker of 30 years and current leader of Redcar and Cleveland District Council, backed Mr Tata. He said: Im amazed. It astounds me that they wouldnt work to get the job done.