British Steel announces 260 job losses at Scunthorpe works

Firm's owner says closure of coking ovens is down to global economic challenges and rising energy bills

British Steel is closing the coking ovens at its Scunthorpe works with the loss of 260 jobs, as the UK steel industry struggles amid high energy prices and the need to invest heavily in lower-carbon technologies.

The company's owner, China's Jingye Group, said the move was partly to overcome global economic challenges" and also due to 190m in extra costs last year from higher energy bills and carbon credits.