Reopened Lanarkshire steel plants to manufacture metal used in bridge construction

Two Lanarkshire steel plants brought back into production after being mothballed will restart manufacturing steel used in structures such as bridges and public art sculptures to help "ensure a brighter future for the workforce''.

The heavy duty steel plate, known as weathering steel, was produced at the Dalzell and Clydebridge plants in the past and on buying the factories last year, management at metals firm Liberty House said they were keen to bring it back.

Production of the material is expected to restart in the coming week, bringing increased work for both the Dalzell rolling mill in Motherwell and the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang.

Workers at Dalzell will staff the Clydebridge plant on an interim basis until demand enables the creation of a permanent workforce at both sites.

A total of 120 Dalzell workers were re-employed when Liberty House bought the plants after former owners Tata ceased production in 2015 with the loss of 270 jobs.

Faced with the closure of the last major steelworks in Scotland, the Scottish Government stepped in with a deal involving ministers buying the plants from Tata and immediately selling them on to Liberty, with the sale completed under the same terms with no cost to the taxpayer.

Drew McGhie, managing director of Liberty Steel Dalzell, said: "By expanding the number of grades we make, we can ensure a brighter future for the workforce.

"We've started making use of the Clydebridge equipment over recent months but the addition of weathering steel to our range means we will now be using that plant more regularly.''

He said almost all weathering steel used in the UK is currently imported from continental Europe as domestic production is very limited, indicating vast opportunities for growth