STEELMAKER Corus has hit back as a battle develops over some threatened ponds.

When Corus closed its Ebbw Vale steelworks nearly three years ago it offered Blaenau Gwent council two historic ponds no longer needed as reserve water supplies in the steel making process.

Now Corus says it is up to the council to act if the ponds are to be saved. "Corus has a number of ponds in the area and when Ebbw Vale's closed the question arose as to what should be done with them," Corus spokesman Mr John Kavanagh said.

"We are keen that the ponds should be made available to the public but we are still awaiting the outcome of council deliberations.

"In the absence of a decision we will be left with no option other than to drain them. In the meantime we will ensure that they are maintained to the standards required by the Environment Agency."

The Upper and Lower Pond - also known as Black and Boat Pond - were created 200 years ago to provide water for the old Nantyglo ironworks. They were inherited by British Steel and ultimately by Corus. The threatened draining has caused dismay in Beaufort where an action committee has been set up.

A council statement confirmed Corus had offered to hand over the ponds to the council but fell short of an undertaking to step in to prevent them being drained.

Mr Rex Herbert, former councillor and mayor and the protest group's chairman said: "There is no doubt Blaenau Gwent has been sitting on its hands hoping something will turn up. The ponds will be drained unless they act. We are angry that in two years nothing between these two bodies has been resolved."