Eerie silence as sun sets on Caparo steel plants

Workers had arrived at the sprawling Heath Road site ready to complete their usual Friday shifts, only to be called to a meeting with administrators at 10am.

Five minutes later 122 staff had all been laid off, the latest victims of the growing crisis within the UK's flagging steel industry.

Elsewhere in the Black Country Caparo workers in Dudley, West Bromwich, Cradley Heath and Oldbury had received the same news, leaving a total of 323 staff out of work.

"We were all numb," said a 49-year-old worker from the Darlaston plant, shortly after the meeting with administrators PwC.

He has worked at the site for 29 years and described his chances of getting another job as 'slim'.

"There was a lot of anger and a few tears," he added. "It's peoples livelihoods all gone up in smoke. We came to work as normal this morning and now we're all out of work.

"There was no prior warning. We had a meeting with management on October 19 and were told to carry on as normal. There's been no talk of redundancies.

"A lot of people have worked here from school. They don't know anything else so finding another job won't be easy."

By 11am the usually bustling car park was less than a quarter full, with the last few dejected workers drifting out of the plant, some already committed to searching for new jobs.

By the new year the plant, which makes automotive parts for companies such as Honda, Ford, Rolls Royce and British Aerospace, JLR and Aston Martin, will be no more.

"I am devastated," said Alan Taylor, aged 54, from Rough Hay, who has been with the firm for 25 years.

"We've heard rumours around the shop floor but we were told there was enough money to pay us for at least two months. It's been like a big family here. So many of us have worked here for years, grown up here really. I thought there might be a chance it could be saved but it's done now.

"I can't see it re-opening now. Everything seems very final."

Workers were told they would be receiving letters through the post confirming the redundancies. A skeleton crew of staff are set to remain at the site until Christmas to complete remaining orders.

At Oldbury, where 68 jobs have gone, workers from Caparo Precision Tubes were given one hour to leave the Popes Lane site after notice was given by administrators.

The site employs a staff of hundreds, leaving those who remain in a state of limbo, not knowing whether they will keep their jobs in the run up to Christmas.

Joe Morgan, West Midlands regional secretary of the union GMB, has vowed to fight to save what remains of the firm.

He said: "It is greatly disappointing that the receivers have felt the need to let people go.

"We understand the reason for this is that the employees on the loss making parts of the business are no longer needed. We are still of the opinion that Caparo can be saved. The GMB will continue its campaign to safeguard the steel industry in the West Midlands and nationally, and will provide legal support and assistance where possible."

Black Country Chamber of Commerce president Ninder Johal said: "It's awful news for those people who have been told they've lost their jobs.

"We want to look at these people, look at their skills and do what we can to deploy them across the Black Country.

"We'll do everything in our power to mitigate this bad news."

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said the news was 'dreadful but not unexpected'.

"We were hopeful this was not going to happen, but now we have to try and look to the future," he added.

"As a council we will be looking at whether we can get parities interested in taking over the site to talk to the administrators."

A helpline has been set up to support workers.

Meanwhile special drop-in sessions were due to take place today at Wolverhampton and West Bromwich job centres.