Bids for Redcar blast furnace and steelworks on eBay have shot up to over £63,000.
Following Monday’s news that the SSI steel plant at Redcar is to be mothballed, one concerned Teessider took the step to put the plant on eBay.
For hours the only bid was for 99p, but yesterday following The Gazette’s story, bids starting flooding in and within hours people were offering thousands to help.
And as of this morning, there had been 105 bids - with the highest being for £63,100.01.
The eBay user, who goes by the username gilbo64, said: “Please make your offers to Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) to help save 1,700 employees over 1,000 contractors and up to 8,000 sub-contractors and suppliers.
“The UK steel industry needs support as the UK Government is not willing to help.
“The steel works is being advertised elsewhere all over the world so no doubt have the right to cancel as person with deep pockets needed to get through these hard times but you will be buying an extremely loyal, hard working workforce who only wish to make a living and keep steel alive on Teesside for generations to come.
“And to produce some of the best quality steel in the world, as our reputation proves with breaking records for steel produced this year.”
People have been posting messages of support on the page.
“Good luck with your quest matey, it would be nice to lift the gloomy clouds in Redcar,” a message reads.
Another said: “Good luck pal, us Teesiders need to do something to help we can’t just sit back and let this happen again.”