Stock markets around the world have suffered further heavy falls as the debt crisis in the eurozone and the threat of a slowdown in the United States seriously worry investors.

Senior figures in Brussels have tried to calm the situation - but traders are now awaiting the latest economic data from America.

Alistair Darling, was the Chancellor under Labour, when the financial crisis broke in the banking sector in 2008.

He now wants greater intervention by eurozone leaders, with, what he called, "sufficient money up front and available".

Mr Darling also said the coalition government here was "guilty of choking off growth" with its austerity plan.