Recycling giant EMR returns to profit after making 'unavoidable' call to cut hundreds of jobs.

A global scrap metal recycling firm with headquarters in the North West returned to making a pre-tax profit in 2020 after making the "unavoidable" decision to cut about 250 jobs.

European Metal Recycling (EMR), which has sites around the country including in Liverpool and at its Warrington HQ, has reported profits of £21m for the 12 months to December 31, 2020, up from a loss of £1m during 2019.

Its turnover dipped from £2.7bn to £2.4bn over the same period.

The new figures come after the company said in January that it had been forced to axe hundreds of jobs during the coronavirus pandemic due to persistent reduced volumes.