Airlines, rail and bus companies could be temporarily nationalised to protect them from the economic fallout from coronavirus, the Transport Secretary has suggested,

Grant Shapps on Tuesday told MPs good companies "shouldn't be going bust" because of the unfolding health crisis.

Possible responses included "on occasions organisations being run by the public sector", Mr Shapps said.

Airlines have been severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak which has forced airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, causing airports to also be hit.

The bosses of Virgin Atlantic have told Boris Johnson that airlines will need up to £7.5bn in government aid, while the chief executive of British Airways said the crisis which is “more serious” for the airline industry than 9/11 and Sars.

France on Tuesday said it was prepared to nationalise industry to protect it from the economic fallout of coronavirus.