WELSH Secretary David Jones has been challenged to join the fight to defend the Welsh steel industry in the wake of the devastating job losses in Port Talbot.

Aberavon MP Hywel Francis said the Welsh Office should follow the lead of the Welsh Government in setting up a task force to back the under-pressure industry following last week's shock announcement.

Dr Francis is also seeking an urgent meeting with Mr Jones to explore ways the Government could provide support.

On Friday, TATA Steel confirmed it was carrying out a UK wide restructuring that would see 900 jobs go across the country, including 500 at Port Talbot.

According to the company's European operations chief Mr Karl Kohler, the proposals were part of a strategy to turn Tata Steel into an all weather producer capable of succeeding in difficult situations.

Those proposals included restructuring management and administrative functions, leading to the 500 job losses at the Port Talbot-based production hub.

Dr Francis said that "'I am calling on the Welsh Secretary David Jones to keep faith with the Welsh steel industry by joining in the partnership of the Welsh Government, TATA Steel, steel unions and local authorities in defending our steel industry. TATA has invested GBP 250 million in Port Talbot alone. What is the Government doing?. The Welsh Office needs to respond positively and urgently to the crisis in the industry."

He added that "I shall be seeking an urgent meeting with the Welsh Secretary this week to explore ways of giving more Government support to our vital steel industry."

Following the announcement, the Welsh Government pledged to work with TATA to set up a task force to find out what could be done to help those affected by the cuts.