Tata cancels early closure of Port Talbot furnaces after Unite calls off strike

Steelworks owner says withdrawal of threat of industrial action means it can continue to operate one furnace safely

The owner of the Port Talbot steelworks, Tata Steel, has cancelled plans to begin shutting down both of the plant's blast furnaces this week after Unite called off a strike, but cutbacks expected to cost 2,800 jobs will still go ahead later this year.

Members of the union were scheduled to begin industrial action on 8 July, days after Indian-owned Tata began a wind-down process that will ultimately end more than 70 years of making steel from scratch at the plant.