Steelworkers have drilled the final hole in the last remaining blast furnace in Port Talbot, bringing to an end the traditional method of steelmaking in south Wales. Tata Steel removed the last usable liquid iron from blast furnace 4 - which will eventually be replaced with electric arc furnaces - on Monday afternoon.

Traditional steelmaking has come to an end but Tata Steel bosses insist it is only a matter of time until a greener operation is underway. | ITV News Wales

The UK's biggest steelworks has shut down production after more than 100 years, leading to thousands of job losses across South Wales. Blast Furnace 4 - the final furnace operating at Tata Steel's plant in Port Talbot - was fully closed down this afternoon, with the last steel expected to be made late on Monday evening.

The move away from making steel from scratch using iron ore and coal to recycling metal in a new £1.25bn electric arc furnace could lead to a "90% reduction in dust from the works' chimneys", Tata has claimed. But for Port Talbot, the prospect of cleaner air comes at a cost - with around 2000 jobs lost.

The process of winding down operations at the final blast furnace has been underway for a number of days. Tata had warned residents they should expect 'whooshing' sounds and plumes of steam. Tata confirmed the last blast furnace at the site would be switched off, along with the remaining heavy-end operations on Monday, September 30.

Tata Steel UK chief executive Rajesh Nair said he is conscious of how ‘difficult’ it will be for everyone as production comes to an end.

The Welsh First Minister has defended the UK Government’s efforts in negotiating a better deal for workers at Tata Steel.

Today marks the end at one of the biggest steelworks in the world as the last blast furnace at Port Talbot in Wales shuts down, leaving it unable to make its own steel.

The closure of the blast furnaces at Britain's biggest steelworks will lead to far more job losses than thought.

The UK's biggest steelworks - a factory where steel is made using traditional methods - has shut down production after more than 100 years, leading to thousands of job losses across South Wales.