Theresa May has hinted that the Conservatives could bring forward a long term plan for funding social care services in the party's election manifesto as she said "we need to stop ducking the issue".

Answering questions after delivering a campaign speech in south Wales, Mrs May said she acknowledged the need for short term, medium term and long term solutions to problems in the care sector.

She said the Tories "are, and have been already" working on that long term solution in an indication that new measures could be included in the Conservative manifesto.

She said: "In the medium term we need to make sure that best practice is spread around the country in relation to social care.