Funding announced for Car Battery Plant in the UK

A firm planning mass production of electric car batteries in the UK has secured government funding for its proposed factory in Northumberland.

Britishvolt announced plans for the so-called gigafactory in Cambois two years ago, saying it would create 3,000 jobs.

The BBC understands the government has committed about £100m through its Automotive Transformation Fund.

Britishvolt also announced backing from investors Tritax and Abrdn, that should unlock about £1.7bn in private funding.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng described the support as "reindustrialisation". He told the BBC's Today programme that the "huge investment" would give people the "opportunity to have highly-paid, well-paid, high-skilled jobs".

"We're bringing industry, we're bringing manufacturing to an area that has been under invested in frankly and we're bringing thousands of jobs," he said.

"Well paid jobs, which represent a huge economic opportunity for people in this area. This is exactly what levelling up looks like. "

Electric cars look set to be the future of transport