A company trying to extract lithium at a site in the North East is planning a £6m fundraise after completing a successful test of its operations.

Northern Lithium says it is closer to producing the mineral that is key to batteries used in electric vehicles after completing a 30-day lithium brine pump testing programme. The company said the tests showed long-term yields of lithium that were ahead of its expectations and allow it to move to the next step of its commercialisation programme.