Just hours before troubled van maker, LDV, was due to go into administration, the Government has agreed to give it a bridging loan.

The £5 million loan is designed to ensure the Midlands-based company remains a going concern while Malaysian manufacturer Weststar completes final checks before committing to the purchase.

This is expected to take at least four weeks.

According to reports, the loan was given Government approval last night.

The company was due in court this morning to have its administration hearing .

"Weststar's proposed purchase of LDV offers the only credible chance of keeping this manufacturing plant in the UK," said business minister Ian Pearson on LDV's official blog site.

"Whilst completion of the deal is not certain, it would have been irresponsible of the Government not to support it going forward.

"But this is a one-off bridging loan and it cannot be extended."