Assurances sought on Scunthorpe steel jobs from Prime Minister

British Steel - Job assurances sought from Theresa May Credit: Press Association

The Prime Minister Theresa May has been urged to confirm that Scunthorpe's steel works will still be operating next month.

She was put on the spot in Parliament by the South Yorkshire MP Caroline Flint.

British Steel, which runs the site, announced it was being placed into liquidation in May.

Potential buyers have until Sunday to make an offer for the company - which employs more than 4,500 people in Scunthorpe - and supports 20 thousand more jobs in the supply chain.

The Prime Minister insisted that she has been in talks with MPs whose constituency would be affected by the closure and insists the Government is working hard to safeguard the future of the Scunthorpe site.

British Steel suffered financial problems just weeks after the company was given funds of around £100 million to pay its European Union carbon bill.