WORKERS are set to start producing steel again next month at one of two mothballed plants.

Dalzell mill in Motherwell and the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang were shut down by Tata Steel last year with the loss of 270 jobs.

However, they were later saved from closure when they were bought by metals group Liberty House in a deal brokered by the Scottish Government, who bought the plants from Tata before immediately selling them on to Liberty House.

The firm plans to resume steel production at the Motherwell site next month using the existing 60 staff plus 40 more new recruits, many from among the former Tata Steel staff. Liberty Steel said the plate-rolling mill had taken delivery of about 1,500 tonnes of slab steel from British Steel in Scunthorpe in preparation to start steel plate production.

Jon Bolton, chief executive of Liberty Steel UK plate division, said: “This is a significant milestone for the plates business in Scotland.

“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.”

Plate steel is used by industries including ship building, heavy vehicle manufacture, construction and wind power generation.