Labour members have called on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to save the steel industry as they warned Nicola Sturgeon's "warm words" are not enough.

Delegates spoke out in support of Community Union's save our steel campaign on the first day of the party's Scottish conference in Perth.

Steel firm Tata announced the mothballing of its operations at Lanarkshire sites Dalzell and Clydebridge, with the loss of 270 jobs.

The First Minister promised to do everything in her power to secure the future of the industry and set up a taskforce with the priority of finding a new commercial operator for the two plants.

Labour members called for the option of public ownership to be kept on the table.

They also want the Government to instruct enterprise agency Scottish Enterprise to conduct a major industry review and produce a government-led strategy.

They said ministers must also look at current infrastructure projects such as the new ferries to be built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow and the Vanguard-submarine successor programme, which present opportunities to use Scottish steel plate.

Tommy Donnelly, a steelworker for 35 years, told the conference the plants had been forced to compete with cheap imports from China.

"Scotland's steelworkers are highly-skilled and dedicated to the industry," he added.

"Many of us have over three decades of service and we will work tirelessly to overcome an unfair advantage.

"But we cannot do this alone - we need urgent public support. This is a crisis and we need more than a long-term strategy. We need help now.

"We understand that we have to change but the Scottish Government must understand that without urgent action, we don't have half a chance.

"Nicola Sturgeon's words of warmth should be welcomed but steelworkers have had enough warm words to last a lifetime."

Paul Kelly, of the Motherwell and Wishaw Constituency Labour Party, accused the SNP of ignoring the industry in recent years as he warned the taskforce must not become "a talking shop".

He added: "We can't allow the SNP to do their usual and blame someone else, or to do their usual and say this would not have happened in an independent Scotland. The time for action is now."

Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said there is a long-term future for the plants.

"We need vigorous action from the UK and Scottish governments working alongside the company, the workforce and the unions," he said.

"Every infrastructure project in Scotland and the UK must be scrutinised for its potential to use Scottish steel.

"We need action on energy costs. We need action to reassure existing customers and to find new customers for Scottish steel.

"Tata has said it will be a responsible seller and it should be held to that. The Scottish Government and its agencies must pull out all the stops to find a responsible buyer willing to invest, and with a vision to match that of the unions and the workforce.

"Every ownership option must be explored, including the option of public ownership.

"There are real prospects for the Scottish steel industry in the future if we can secure the Lanarkshire plants now."