A ROW has erupted after Prime Minister David Cameron visited one of Wales' under-threat steel plants today - without telling First Minister Carwyn Jones he was going.

In March Tata announced plans to sell its entire UK operation - including plants in Llanwern, Port Talbot and elsewhere, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk.

And today, Tuesday, the Prime Minister visited the Port Talbot plant. But a spokesman from Mr Jones' office said they had not been told Mr Cameron was coming, and only learned about the visit from Twitter.

A spokesman for the First Minister said: "We were surprised and disappointed on hearing about the Prime Minister's visit via Twitter.

"We had invited him to Port Talbot previously, and indeed after various discussions and meetings the First Minister had undertaken on steel yesterday had asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister today.

"However, his office said he was unavailable.

"We've said throughout that we are willing to put our political differences aside in the interests of our steel industry, but it does require respect from all parties to make this work."

The Prime Minister was joined on the visit by Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and met chief executive of Tata Steel Europe Hans Fischer. But business secretary Sajid Javid was not present.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: "He will be having meetings with management, staff and unions.

“It is an opportunity for the PM to hear first-hand their views and discuss the way forward.”

She added: "The government has been very focused over the last few weeks on making sure it is doing all it can to support a sustainable future for the steel industry in Port Talbot.

"As the Prime Minister has said throughout, we want to do all we can to support a sustainable future for the steel industry in Port Talbot, but we don't under-estimate the challenges facing the UK steel industry."

Among those to meet the Prime Minister was general secretary of the Community union Roy Rickhuss, who welcomed Mr Cameron’s visit.

“As soon as I returned from the Tata board meeting in Mumbai, I asked him to meet and I am pleased he has now taken the time to do so,” he said.

He also welcomed a committment by the Prime Minister to continue to work to protect Wales' steelworks.

“This is a national industrial crisis and the Prime Minister needs to act nationally, and indeed globally, to secure a sustainable future for the UK steel industry,” he said.

"Steelworkers will now be watching and waiting for the Prime Minister to match his words with real action.

“We need immediate action to save the industry but also a long-term plan to give UK steel-making a fair chance to compete.

"The Prime Minister has now seen first-hand the great blast furnaces of Port Talbot, both of which will be vital to any future success of the business.

"He looked proud steelworkers in the eye and promised to do all he could to protect their jobs.

“Our Save Our Steel campaign will continue as we hold him to his word."

The future of Tata’s plants remains uncertain.

Downing Street has been contacted for comment regarding Mr Jones’ claims.