DAVID Cameron will be asked to take urgent action on the future of Redcar steelworks following emergency talks on Teesside today. 

EXCLUSIVE: Eleventh-hour bid to keep fires burning at Redcar steelworks 

Meetings between business minister Anna Soubry and the key players - including SSI, MPs and unions - have been taking place all day in Redcar to agree a plan that can save jobs, safeguard redundancy payments and preserve the troubled Teesside steelworks which is on the very of collapse. 

A response from the Government could come as early as tomorrow, following what Redcar MP Anna Turley said were "very positive talks".  

The Northern Echo revealed today that a company based in the North-East has put forward a plan to keep the plant ticking over until a buyer can be found to restart iron and steel making. It would see the firm run the site's coke works and bulk terminal to keep the fires burning at the troubled SSI plant and protect hundreds of workers from redundancy.

Bosses from that firm attended a meeting this afternoon with Ms Soubry, which was also attended by Tees MPs Tom Blenkinsop and Andy McDonald. The minsister is said to have been "very interested in the plan" and has asked for more details which she is "taking to the very top of government".

The Northern Echo understands she will be speaking to the Prime Minister later today about the proposals and also about ways that wages of workers facing redundancy, payments to contract staff and debts to suppliers can be met. 

Today's crunch talks came amid growing fears that SSI’s Teesside site is about to enter administration, leaving workers and suppliers owed millions and the stricken works shut down. 

Ms Soubry said: “I have had a series of meetings with the company, unions, MPs and the local task force. No-one was in any doubt of the seriousness of the financial situation facing SSI. The government's priority has been on helping the workforce.

"Much of our work has to remain private, but without our action it is unlikely workers would have been paid or even be insured to be on site. I will continue to speak to everyone I can and make sure that we explore every avenue to help the local community."