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Over Easter the UK government passed an emergency law to keep Scunthorpe's blast furnaces firing because the plant was threatened with closure.

British Steel's blast furnaces are set to continue running with a delivery of enough raw materials to keep them alight for the "coming weeks" due on Tuesday, the government has said.

The government said work was under way on Monday to obtain the coking coal and iron ore that power the plant's two furnaces - materials it previously said owners Jingye had been selling off.

Asked if he could guarantee the furnaces would remain open, Jonathan Reynolds said he would not comment "on the commercial aspect of supply" but the takeover gave the "opportunity" to obtain the coal needed.

There is an optimism among ministers that with the law changed they can secure the necessary raw materials to keep the two working blast furnaces in Scunthorpe doing just that - working.