Cumbrian new nuclear backer Toshiba faces "serious doubts" about its survival.

Today it delivered twice-delayed results for the the period of April-December last year, showing it had made a net loss of 532bn yen (£3.8bn).

The troubled Japanese giant has a 60 per cent stake in NuGen, which has plans to build a new power plant in Moorside, near Sellafield, and is soon to take complete control.

Toshiba has always insisted that it remains committed to the project - though it has long term plans to sell its stake - but this latest news looks set to reignite doubts about the company's engagement.

A statement to investors said: "There are material events and conditions that raise the substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern."

A different statement to investors though said the company was taking measures to tackle its financial problems, adding: "Toshiba is sure it will be able to secure a sufficient financial base."

Toshiba's woes stem from part of its nuclear operations.

In January the company announced its US subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric, which was originally part of BNFL, may have overpaid - by several billion dollars - for another nuclear construction and services business.

This has resulted in a loss of 759.8bn yen (£5.5bn) in this part of Toshiba's business, which profits elsewhere did not mitigate.

These results were delivered without being signed off by the company's auditor, raising the prospect that it could be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) have expressed an interest in buying Toshiba's stake in NuGen and meetings between the two organisations are set to take place though no timescale on this has been given.

A NuGen spokesman said: “NuGen is working with its shareholders to conclude the shareholding transfer from ENGIE (French firm which has a 40 per cent stake in NuGen it is selling) to Toshiba, which will become the 100 per cent shareholder of NuGen in due course.

"It continues to work towards bringing in additional investment to the Moorside Project.”

He added that the firm would not comment on matters specifically related to Toshiba's finances.