JOBS at closure-threatened Fiddlers Ferry have been saved after the power station secured new contracts which will run until 2019.

Almost one year ago it was feared three of the plant's four units could shut down – putting up to 800 jobs at risk.

But the site has now successfully bid for work to provide back-up power to National Grid following a competitive procurement process.

One of the contracts runs until April 18 and another new agreement until 2019.

Last year Halton MP Derek Twigg held crisis talks with former energy secretary Amber Rudd.

He has welcomed the news but is urging the Government to invest in the future of coal-fired power stations.

Mr Twigg said: “I welcome the news. Fiddlers Ferry has now got work for three of the plant’s machines.

“The first deal brought them to September 2018 and they have now filled the gap with a new agreement until 2019.

“But I am still concerned about the Government’s policy towards power stations.

“They have a big responsibility to keep the lights on. We have not had a very bad winter for years.

“We can’t be taking risks with the future of power stations.”

He said many Widnes residents who work at the plant had turned to him for help.

“It was a relief to get these deals,” he said.

“Staff have worked really hard to find ways of making savings.”  

Energy giant Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) currently employs 160 at the station where 213 worked last year.

A spokesman said: "Although SSE has consulted on the future of Fiddlers Ferry in the past, the consultation closed last year, with the station remaining open.

"In the GB Capacity Market Auction in January 2017, SSE successfully secured a contract for three out of the four units at Fiddlers Ferry power station to provide electricity generation capacity from October 2017 to September 2018.”

Last March, SSE said it had been losing money for two years and would prefer to incur a penalty by breaching a contract rather than face further losses.

The company blamed falling prices for the turmoil.

Plans to close the site put 800 jobs at risk, with contractors including tradesmen, train drivers, technicians and bulldozer operators among those working at the station.

The Government has vowed to end coal-fired electricity generation by 2025 to meet climate change targets.

The site has been providing enough electricity to supply around two million home