Potential bidders, reports Belfast Telegraph, have expressed an interest in buying Harland and Wolff, administrators have confirmed.

Insolvency experts Brian Murphy and Michael Jennings from business advisory firm BDO are now running the business.

On Wednesday the majority of the 123 staff have been able to opt for temporary lay-offs, a move which maintains their employment contracts. However, some have already opted for redundancy.

A spokesperson for BDO said on Friday: "In light of insufficient funds to cover the current running costs of the business and in the absence of any other funds being available at this point, in conjunction with Unions, the administrators have agreed to facilitate an unpaid temporary lay-off until Friday 16th August.

The newspaper here has more on the story.