Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been quizzed on what the government is doing to help pottery firms hit by rocketing energy prices.

Stoke-on-Trent North's Labour MP David Williams raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, asking Sir Keir what news he could give his ex-pottery worker mum and other Stokies.

The PM said the government is in talks with the ceramics industry over potentially extending the Supercharger scheme, which reduces electricity costs for energy-intensive manufacturers.

Most ceramics firms have been disqualified from accessing the scheme so far due to their dependence on gas, and reviewing the eligibility criteria has been a key request from industry body Ceramics UK.

Stoke-on-Trent's pottery businesses have been hit hard by rising energy costs in recent years, and there are concerns that the war with Iran could make the situation even worse.

Mr Williams said: "As the Prime Minister knows, my mum proudly worked in the potbanks of Burslem and Tunstall and is watching at home right now.

"Tomorrow is International Day of Ceramics, and that matters deeply to Stoke-on-Trent, the historic heart of Britain's ceramic industry.

"With energy prices rising again due to global instability, will the Prime Minister please tell my mum, and our fellow Stokies, what additional support the government will give energy-intensive industries like ceramics, so the kilns of Stoke-on-Trent can fire for generations to come."

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Sir Keir thanked Mr Williams for raising 'a really important issue'. He said: "Our Supercharger will significantly reduce costs for thousands of major industries.

"Eligibility for the scheme is being reviewed this year. I can tell my honourable friend, we're working with the ceramics industry on whether the scheme can be extended to more firms.

"Under the last government, industrial energy prices doubled and over a thousand jobs were lost in the sector. We will not tolerate that."

Last week, Ceramics UK said the Spring Statement offered 'little opportunity' for the industry, but expressed hope that the government would act on its key requests in future, including widening access to the Supercharger.