GROWTH and the excellence of Copeland's nuclear industry will be placed front and centre during a government visit.

On Wednesday (20) MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison will welcome the minister for the Northern Powerhouse to Whitehaven.

Jake Berry has been invited to a dinner by Mrs Harrison, giving him the chance to meet some of the area's leading business and industry figures.

Representatives from Sellafield, Morgan Sindall and Atkins Global will be given the chance to speak to Mr Berry, pitching why west Cumbria area is ripe for investment.

Mrs Harrison said: "The Northern Powerhouse is about boosting growth across the North by building on its economic assets and addressing barriers to productivity.

"Following a fantastic summer of meetings with Copeland’s leading industry businesses, I felt it was necessary to invite the minister to visit Copeland and see for himself the potential our area has to offer."

The MP for Copeland, who has been elected to the parliamentary seat twice in the last year, said the visit was an opportunity for the area to enjoy the benefits of any future Northern Powerhouse.

Barry Watkinson, nuclear development director at Morgan Sindall, said: "As a major employer within west Cumbria, we are keen to ensure that both the region and the nuclear industry is not forgotten in the Northern Powerhouse plans.

"Helping to promote the capability of the region and providing opportunities for the people who live in Copeland in order to help increase its economic prosperity is key to our business."

The dinner will be held at the newly-refurbished Rosehill Theatre, in Whitehaven.