WELSH history should be taught in all schools in the UK, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has said.

Ms Wood has said a greater understanding of the history of Wales as a nation would help battle ignorance and prejudice against the nation.

She said the controversy around a Newsnight report earlier this month, which many have said was unfairly biased against the Welsh language, had highlighted "deep-rooted ignorance surrounding? our language and history".

"Education is the key to tackling such ignorance," she said.

"That is why I believe every pupil throughout the UK should be taught elementary Welsh history and made aware of our language and its important part in these islands' past.

"This would result in less intolerance and hopefully would see greater respect shown towards Welsh people and the Welsh language."

She added: "Welsh is an indispensable part of this nation's social fabric.

"It is a language in which hundreds of thousands of people live their lives every day and it is simply unacceptable people are forced to justify that to others due to ignorance, bigotry and intolerance.

"?Recent events which have infuriated so many speakers and supporters of Welsh have highlighted the challenge we still face in promoting how the language enriches the lives of everyone in Wales.

The BBC has said it "understands" why people were unhappy with its report on the Welsh language.