UK steel industry 'vital' for UK - Business Secretary Sajid Javid

The UK steel industry is "absolutely vital" for the country and the government is committed to finding a long-term solution to keep it afloat, Business Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

Mr Javid - who is cutting short his Australia trip to return to the UK - said the government was looking at "all viable options" to keep steelmaking continuing in Port Talbot.

But he played down the prospect of nationalising British steel, saying: "I don't think it's going to be the solution because everyone would want a long-term, viable solution."

He insisted "there are buyers out there" and said the government was "more than ready" to provide commercial support to really secure Port Talbot's "long-term future".