A FORMER Wattsville Tata Steel plant which shut last year resulting in 87 job losses re-opened today under a different company with new jobs created.

Capital Coated Steel Ltd opened its new £3.5 million steel processing plant at North Blackvein Industrial Estate in Wattsville with help from the First Minister Carwyn Jones.

14 local jobs have been created at the company’s new plant, whose products have been used in the construction of the London Olympic Stadium and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, and many former employees of the site have filled the positions.

First Minister Carwyn Jones officially opened the quarter-of-a-mile plant and switched on the company’s new £1 million machine which processes 500 tonnes of steel a day.

The new machine splits coils of steel, which are then sold to companies across Europe to produce items from dart boards to portacabins.

Capital Coated Steel Ltd has moved its sites in Pontypool, Newport and Cardiff along with 96 employees to the new site which was formerly owned by Tata Steel until it shut in 2014.

The First Minister said: “We want to keep skilled manufacturing jobs in the area - so it is great to hear that many of the jobs at this new production base will be filled by people who previously worked on this site.”

"From my point of view it’s great to see the local supply chain at work. It’s good to keep businesses in Wales and jobs in Wales."

Caerphilly Councillor Jan Jones said she was “very supportive” of the new plant which is “good for jobs and good for the local economy”.

Gary Hunt, managing director of the company which was founded by his father John in 1972, said: “We are delighted to be bringing new jobs and be playing our part in the industrial revitalisation of the Gwent valleys.

The company processes 70,000 tonnes of steel annually and has been supported financially by the Welsh Government.

10 of the 14 jobs which have been created at the new plant have already been filled by people from the local area, one of the directors of the company Colin O'Sullivan said.

Mr O’Sullivan said the company is sponsoring Crosskeys Rugby Club and has been using the local garage for their cars, all signs of reinvesting into the community.