Progress is continuing on the reopening of a former Tata Steel mill in North Lanarkshire.

Around 1,500 tonnes of steel slab has been delivered at the Dalzell plate mill at Motherwell, which will be used to restart steel plate production by new owners Liberty House Group.

Plate steel from the plant is used by a wide variety of industries including ship building, heavy vehicle manufacture, construction and wind power generation.

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Around 60 staff are already engaged in preparations to re-open Dalzell, with a further 40 expected to join the workforce before the site starts to produce plate again. About 70% of the initial recruits are former employees returning to their old jobs.

The works are also supporting additional local jobs through the award of about 20 new supply contracts, for business and engineering services, to firms in the Motherwell area.

Jon Bolton, chief executive of Liberty Steel UK plate division, said the delivery is a "significant milestone" for the Scottish plates business and the UK steel sector.

"It is pleasing to watch the plant gradually coming back to life as more people arrive on site and particularly pleasing to welcome young apprentices to the team," he said.

(LM/CD)