The job cuts could include up to 800 in Rotherham and Stocksbridge and 375 jobs in Teesside and Scotland. 500 white-collar jobs are also at risk in Scunthorpe.

These job cuts would come on top of about 2,500 cuts announced in January and takes the total job losses at Corus so far this year to 4,500.

The company employs more than 20,000 people at sites across the UK.

It has suffered a sharp fall in demand for steel in the economic downturn.