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.

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.

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.

Braving the opposition from workers and political parties for almost a year, the Indian company stuck to its plan to end steelmaking operation at the South Wales site on September 30, with the closure of the sinter plant,

TATA Steel’s last blast furnace at Port Talbot will cease operations this afternoon, marking the end of more than 100 years of traditional steelmaking at the site.

Photographers have documented the impact of the closure of the second blast furnace at Tata Steel.