A UNION has issued a stark warning about more children falling into poverty should a Corus steel plant shut.

The Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant, at Redcar, in east Cleveland, could be mothballed if a buyer for its steel is not found, threatening about 3,000 jobs.

But there have been predictions that as many as 10,000 workers could ultimately be affected given the plant’s huge influence over the surrounding area.

The Community Union said figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty showed that as many as three in four children throughout the Tees Valley were already classed as experiencing severe financial hardship, coming from a low income family or non-working family.

It said that this bleak picture could deteriorate further should the plant be mothballed.

The warning came ahead of a march on Saturday in Redcar in support of the steel plant, which is expected to attract thousands of people.

Corus has been seeking buyers for its steel ever since a four-strong international consortium, including Marcegaglia, of Italy, and Dongkuk, of Korea, signalled in May it was ending an agreement to take the bulk of its products.

Richard Green, a member of the Community Union national executive council, who works at Corus, said: “With the plight of children becoming a serious problem in our community, it’s time to recognise that the best answer to the threat of children living in poverty is to ensure their parents have access to sustainable long-term employment.

“TCP is one of the main employers in the area and part of the backbone of British manufacturing.

“Support for TCP now will cost the Government far less over the long-term than trying to rebuild the local economy if it is forced to close.”

The march will set off from the Majuba Road car park, in Redcar, at 2pm, with marchers gathering from noon. It will make its way along the esplanade to High Street and on to the Redcar clock.

Afterwards, there will be a number of speakers, including the Community Union’s national officer for steel, Roy Rickhuss, and Redcar MP Vera Baird.

A free park and ride system will operate from 11am at Corus headquarters, Steel House, Redcar.