HUNDREDS of steel workers from a closed Newport plant met with union representatives at the weekend to discuss plans about their future.

Workers from Alphasteel, based in Corporation Road, which was put into administrative receivership on December 21, met up with union representatives from Community at Newport Lliswerry Leisure Centre on Saturday.

Around 300 workers attended to discuss matters including redundancy pay and the future for themselves and the plant.

Since the plant closed just days before Christmas, a skeleton staff of around 30 people have continued working on site to carry out necessary maintenance.

Marilyn Jones, 63 of Lighthouse Park, St Brides worked as a nurse at Alphasteel for 13 years and said she found the meeting to be "pretty informative".

She said: "I didn't really want to be thrown out, I would have liked to have retired elated, not deflated. I'm finishing, a lot of these boys are just starting, I'm more concerned about their welfare than my own."

Workshops are also being arranged for the redundant workers to offer them legal advice, guidance and information on incentives and opportunities open to them while a buyer is sought for the plant.

The meeting was chaired by Brian Silver, a former shop steward at Alphasteel, he said: "It's beneficial to the workers and myself. The positive feedback we're having is there's potential businesses out there interested in Alphasteel.

Jenny Smith, regional director for Community in South Wales said: "The mood of the meeting was one of real concern and worry. What we did today was listen to members concerns about what had been happening at the company and talk to them.

"We will be working alongside the Welsh Assembly and the local authority with the official receivers to try to pull out all the stops to find a good buyer to take over Alphasteel to find a better future for our members."