Corus shareholders have applauded a union leader who told executives at the company's annual meeting that its workers deserved better treatment than being sacked.

Eddie Lynch, deputy general secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, told shareholders gathered for the company's annual meeting in London that workers were 'demoralised and angry' at the 6,000 job losses announced by the company in February, including 1,100 in Teesside.

Mr Lynch told the meeting at TUC headquarters in London: "The workers have improved productivity year on year, yet their only reward is to be dismissed."

Corus chairman Sir Brian Moffat said in a statement that the company would continue to work with unions to provide retraining and new employment opportunities for workers.