Ministers holding urgent talks in bid to help pottery industry

Miliband aware of challenges sector faces

- Sentinel Reporter

URGENT top level Government talks are taking place to see how it can support Stoke-on-Trent's pottery industry.

Minister Ed Miliband said the sector was facing 'particular challenges' due to global events causing an increase in fossil fuel prices.

Several ceramics firms have collapsed in the wake of rising energy costs-including Stoke-on-Trent-based Royal Stafford and Moorcroft-though the latter has since been bought by the grandson of its founder.

During a visit to Rocester, Miliband told the BBC that ministers were seeking to address some of the issues in the upcoming industrial strategy.

"It is something we are urgently looking at," he said. "We do understand some of the challenges the ceramics industry is facing.

"It's a really important industry, really important for this area and we want to do everything we can to help."