UNION bosses are continuing to hold crisis talks with the steel company planning to axe up to 100 jobs at its Newport plant.

Steve McCool, regional secretary of Community, which represents more than 600 steelworkers at Alphasteel, in Corporation Road, said more discussions would be held this week.

He said today the company had said 50 people were accepting a redundancy package but he did not know the position on other job losses.

"Fifty people have indicated they are willing to go," said Mr McCool.

Earlier this month it was reported that the company had said up to 99 redundancies could be made.

Workers held a mass meeting on Sunday, where the majority voted in favour of a ballot for industrial action in the fight for redundancies to be kept to a minimum.

The plant has expanded rapidly over the last year following a big investment and the workforce has risen from under 100 to more than 600. This means many of the employees have less than a year's service.

An overtime ban is one of the options being considered by the union, but Mr McCool said: "We are going back for more discussions tomorrow."

Spiros Kopitsis, managing director of the Newport plant, has so far refused to comment on the job losses.

Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, added: "My thoughts are with those who may lose their jobs and I will do everything I can to work with the union and the company to try and mitigate the redundancies and see what assistance can be offered in these circumstances."

And John Griffiths, AM for Newport East, said he would be meeting economic development minister Andrew Davies today to discuss Alphasteel.