BORIS Johnson said that the Government 'believes in British steel' and understands the industry's importance to the region.

It was revealed this week that Liberty Steel, which has plants in Teesside and Hartlepool, owes billions and is being re-financed, but the Government refused it a £170million bailout.

However, Mr Johnson says he believes that British steel does have a role to play in major national infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

He said: "Our feelings at the moment are with the steelworkers and their families and I understand how important it is for them and for the community.

"I know that's what Jill Mortimer (Hartlepool Conservative candidate) also feels and she'll be wanting to deliver for the people of Hartlepool and for that industry.

"We are working the whole time with Liberty Steel to see if there is a way through.

"It has been a tough time for the steel industry because of global demand not being as high as it should be because of Covid .

"There will be complicated commercial questions and we will work on all sorts of solutions and alternatives.

"The point I want to make is, we believe in British steel and we believe that there are great markets for British steel."

Mr Johnson said Government contracts will be directed to British steel firms as long as they offer 'the best possible deal' to taxpayers.

He said: "Steel is a real concern to people in Hartlepool and properly so and Jill I know will do a fantastic job of campaigning to keep steel being made here.

"But one of the things you can do as a post-Brexit country, you can look at all the things we'll be making that will involve steel, and it is a huge number of things; the HS2, the wind arrays the Beeching reversals (rail lines reopening), the nuclear plants, the huge amounts of steel this country will be using in the next decade.

" We've got the potential now, without being uncompetitive, without ripping off the taxpayer, because we wouldn't want to do that at all, making sure we get the best possible deal, you can still direct those contracts at British manufacturers and British steel suppliers and why shouldn't you?"