The UK government has taken control of British Steel's plant in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, to prevent it from closing. Ministers say they have secured the raw materials needed to keep the plant's blast furnaces working in the "coming weeks", while they look for a long-term solution.

London says it acted to prevent the plant’s Chinese owners from closing the plant, threatening jobs and national security.

The UK government took effective control Saturday of Britain’s last remaining factory that makes steel from scratch from its Chinese owners, after lawmakers approved an emergency rescue.