The UK steel industry could be saved by new imaging technology, a scientist has claimed.

Dr Manuch Soleimani's Shell-Thick project aims to develop a system for assessing the solidification process of metal.

The system would significantly improve the continuous casting process of steel by providing a reliable method of measuring the molten steel to detect any defects or fails as it solidifies and becomes a market product.

By enabling industry to continuously monitor and alter the cooling process of steel, the method will improve the quality, safety, productivity, costs and competitiveness of the UK and EU steel industries, Dr Soleimani said.

Induction tomography is a new and emerging non-invasive imaging technique used in a number of applications including medical diagnostics, geophysical exploration and civil engineering.

The UK and European steel industry is currently in a desperate state and facing widespread job losses due to its inability to compete with the highly subsidised steel industries in China. It is hoped the new technology may help the industry in the UK and EU become more competitive and have greater job security.

Dr Soleimani, from the University of Bath, has received an EU Horizon 2020 grant to lead the three-year project.

He said: "We are delighted to play a critical part in this project by using world-leading techniques in our engineering tomography lab, in the area of electromagnetic imaging.

"This is an exciting and yet very challenging project that will have a great impact in helping in the competitive production of high quality steel, which is very important for the sustainable future of the UK and European steel industry."

In March, two mothballed Lanarkshire steel plants were bought by metals firm Liberty House after months of uncertainty over their futures.

The agreement saw the Scottish Government buying the Clydebridge and Dalzell plants from Tata Steel, and immediately selling them on to Liberty.

Liberty will take responsibility for reopening, operating and investing in the two sites as part of its wider strategy to build an integrated and sustainable steel business across the UK.