For the second time in a month, Toshiba has failed to report its 2016 results.

The troubled Japanese giant - which has a 60 per cent stake in NuGen, the company with plans to bring nuclear new build to Cumbria - was due to report these this morning but has instead been granted an extension to April 11.

This is the second time the company has found itself in this position, after it had to take the same course of action on February 14 when it was originally due to report.

The firm has blamed an ongoing investigation by its lawyers into "inappropriate pressures" being applied by managers at its American nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric concerning the takeover of another company.

In a press conference though the firm did announce it was looking into the position of Westinghouse - which would supply three reactors to the proposed new power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield - in the wider group.

In a presentation it said the company would "reposition Westinghouse in Toshiba Group" and have "proactive consideration of strategic alternatives".

This led to the company's shares rising on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, recovering from a drop earlier in the day.

Toshiba has forecast a 713bn yen (£5bn) loss in its nuclear business and its woes stem mainly from Westinghouse.

In January the company announced this subsidiary may have overpaid - by several billion dollars - for another nuclear construction and services business.

This led the company to the review of its involvement in non-Japanese nuclear projects - including Moorside - and put its semiconductor business up for sale. It subsequently announced that it remained committed to the Cumbrian development - though it would not take on risk from construction - but the company's financial situation has fuelled fears over its involvement.

There have been rumours reported that Westinghouse may file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the USA but Toshiba has always said it is "not aware" of any such action taking place.

It has also been reported that the Korea Electrical Power Company (Kepco) may be a potential buyer for Westinghouse.

A NuGen spokesman said: “NuGen’s shareholders are committed to the development of the Moorside Project to build Europe’s largest new nuclear power station in West Cumbria

"Moorside is at the core of the UK’s plans for providing safe, sustainable low-carbon electricity for generations to come and will be a transformational opportunity for west Cumbria."

NuGen chief executive Tom Samson said: “The project has made significant progress since Toshiba took over as major shareholder in 2014. The site has already been proven as suitable for three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, two phases of consultation have found the public overwhelmingly supportive of the need for new nuclear and have helped shape the plans for Moorside.

“The UK Government is supportive of NuGen, as a maturing and highly skilled nuclear organisation, and has remained firmly committed to new nuclear – stating that nuclear has a crucial role to play in securing our future energy needs, especially as we look to move to a low carbon society.

"NuGen will continue to progress plans to develop Europe’s largest new nuclear power station, capable of generating up to 3.8GW of low-carbon electricity – equivalent to seven per cent of the UK’s electricity requirements.”

Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council, had concerns.

He said: "It is concerning because of the uncertainty that all of this has caused.

"NuGen are assuring us that everything is on track but really we have to hear that from Toshiba and if they are not going to invest in the construction of Moorside we need to know who is. There is a lot of speculation about alternative investors but I will not be comfortable until we know exactly who they are."