Steven Spielberg yesterday said he wanted to see the British film industry "get back on its feet" and become as great as it was in the 1940s and 1950s.

In the world's first cyber seminar yesterday, the Hollywood director told students at John Moores University in Liverpool: "Britain had a great film industry under Ealing, Rank and Korda.

"But everyone left the UK and came to America and made more money, fame and fortune in the States. I would love to see the British film industry get back on its feet again."

He added: "It is up to the Commonwealth to do what Australia has done, coming to America to make a picture and then going off to make more pictures back home."

Connected by ISDN lines from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, where he is filming, he told media students that the British film industry needed a great leader to do what had been done in Britain many years ago.

Spielberg said that he had made 11 films in England and would return to the country to make more. "I have made almost as many films in England as I have in America," he said.

"I will come back to England again and again. You have great art directors, cinematographers, chippies and sparks. I think I've done my share in keeping as much work in the UK as I can."