The owners of an under-threat aluminium smelter say they are speaking to potential buyers in a bid to save the plant.

Owners Rio Tinto announced earlier this year it was reviewing its operation in Lochaber, putting more than 160 jobs at risk.

The company has now confirmed a number of parties have come forward with investment proposals.

A spokesman said: "The strategic review is progressing and we are continuing to look at a range of options including the potential for it remaining as a Rio Tinto operation.

"As part of the review, we are talking to a number of parties who have potentially expressed interest in getting involved as partners, investors or buyers."

Rio Tinto previously said the current economic climate represented a "challenging market backdrop" for the mining industry.

The British-Australian firm has made $6.2bn worth of cuts over the last three years.