PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown has refused to rule out a bailout for the UK motor industry during his visit to Isambard Community School today.

Yesterday Nissan UK announced it was cutting 1,200 jobs at the UK's biggest motor plant in Sunderland.

But when asked if a bailout for the industry was on the cards, he said: "What we're talking about is help for an industry where there's been investment taking place, such as in electric and high technology, for energy efficient cars, and what we're also looking at with the car industry is the credit system."

Mr Brown was greeted by more than 400 screaming Swindon schoolchildren as he was shown around the well-equipped, new-build secondary school.

He was introduced to a maths and IT class, where he chatted to the children about their favourite subjects and was interviewed by two 11-year-olds as part of a media project.

Unveiling a commemorative plaque in front of teaching staff, the Prime Minister highlighted the Government's £40 billion investment programme for 2009 that is central to his plan to restore economic growth and create 100,000 jobs.

He has set out Government plans to spend £21.9bn on school capital projects between 2008 and 2011 - a sevenfold increase on 1996/97.

Since 1997, more than 1,100 schools have been built or rebuilt - 13 of them in Swindon alone, where the next couple of years are set to see a further £50 million spent on school buildings and facilities.

* Read more about Gordon Brown's visit in tomorrow's Adver.