THOUSANDS of angry steelworkers lay siege to Corus plants across Europe on Monday in the face of a renewed threat to their jobs.

At the Corus steel plants at Redcar, Lackenby and Hartlepool hundreds gathered with symbolic red cards for chairman Sir Brian Moffat - a call for his resignation.

In scenes repeated at Corus plants across Britain and the Netherlands, workers gathered amid fears that massive job cuts are planned.

Debts at the Anglo-Dutch steel maker are near the £1.7bn mark, and company bosses have warned that one of its major steel operations is set to close.

The news caused outrage among Teesside's 3,000 workers directly employed by Corus and 7,000 ancillary workers.

They claim that with 12,000 British jobs already shed by Corus since 1999 and with efficiency targets being met by the workers, the fault lies with senior management. The company is in negotiations with its bankers and says an announcement on its future will be released once those talks are completed.

Some workers left their places of work, although many others stayed at their posts to keep production going. The Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) said Sir Brian had led the company into crisis and should leave. Corus chief executive Tony Pedder resigned in March after the company announced losses of £458m.

Sir Brian has announced he plans to retire in the coming months. However, union leaders do not want him to have influence over the appointment of his successor or a new chief executive.

The protestors at the Redcar plant included union leaders, Stockton South MP Dari Taylor and leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council David Walsh.

The ISTC plans another demonstration at the Corus AGM on Tuesday, April 29, when thousands of red cards will be presented to Sir Brian.