BARROW'S MP wants to return the UK's first ever nuclear submarine to the town to act as a lasting tribute to the area's shipbuilding heritage. 

The Dock Museum has been earmarked as a potential location for HMS Dreadnought, the first nuclear submarine built in the shipyard between 1959 and 1960.

Simon Fell is now spearheading a campaign to bring the boat back to Barrow.

It is currently stationed at the Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland having been withdrawn from service in 1980.

The next generation of Trident submarines being built at the shipyard, Dreadnought, share a name with Britain's first nuclear fleet. 

Mr Fell said he had received encouragement over the plan following discussions with government figures. 

He said: "It is important to the heritage of the town that we celebrate its part in keeping the UK and its allies safe, and to the remarkable generations of people who have worked in Barrow's shipyards.

"Bringing HMS Dreadnought home would be timely as her successor is constructed on the same ground.

"I have asked the Ministry of Defence and the Submarine Delivery Agency to work with me on what would be needed to return Dreadnought, and have spoken to the Dock Museum about potentially being a permanent home for it."  

The £20 million sub was hailed as a great step forward in naval history and the 3,600-tonne vessel spent 20 years in the navy before being taken out of active service.

It was launched from Barrow by the Queen in 1960. 

The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) started at Rosyth in December 2016 around 15 years behind schedule.

A team of around 150 people are working on the site to remove radioactive waste.

A new generation of Trident submarines is under construction by BAE at the shipyard.

The boats are expected to enter service in the 2030s.

The Government announced in May a raft of contracts worth up to £2 billion to begin the third major phase of Dreadnought.