The Government has sold its final shares in Lloyds Banking Group which means it is back in private ownership.

At the peak of the financial crisis taxpayers pumped £20.3 billion into the bank eight years ago.

The Government had a 43 per cent stake in Lloyds at one time but has been selling its shares ever since.

The BBC reported Lloyds as saying the Government will see a return of £21.2 billion on its investment.

Lloyds chief executive António Horta Osório said Lloyds is now one of the "strongest banks" in the world.

Lloyds has a major centre at Barnwood employing 900 people.