REDCAR’S Coke Ovens will burn over the weekend after more coal was bought to keep the fires alive.

The site’s official receiver says the ovens will be alight until late Sunday at least.

The receiver is overseeing the base after steelmaker SSI UK went into liquidation.

According to the Government’s Insolvency Service, the receiver is still speaking to interested parties about the future use of the works.

The Redcar site’s 162 coke ovens generate high-value products, such as electricity and coal-tar product benzol, and the Insolvency Service says former SSI staff remain on site to manage their maintenance.

Confirmation of the ovens extension came just hours after the Insolvency Service and the Department for Business were condemned by Labour MPs Anna Turley and Tom Blenkinsop over claims workers lost their jobs in a “disgusting” miscount of staff.

About 240 people are believed to have been told to leave Redcar’s steelworks on Thursday.

It is understood around 890 staff were initially told to stay on at the coke ovens, after steelmaker SSI UK collapsed, to keep the fires burning.

However, that number has now been reduced to about 650.

The Insolvency Service denied claims of a miscount, telling The Northern Echo staff levels were originally left higher than needed to cover health and safety regulations.

But Ms Turley and Mr Blenkinsop claim it made a numerical error.

Ms Turley added: “It’s heartbreaking, and another kick in the stomach for everyone involved.”

The receiver has held discussions this week with potential saviours for the site, including the coke ovens, maintaining hope some jobs can be saved.

However, it could choose to let the ovens burn out, which could spell the end for the entire works.