A major step forward has been taken in the creation of a multi-billion pound tidal power project which could bring thousands of jobs to west Cumbria.

The tidal lagoon, which would be in the Solway Firth, is one of six sites targeted by renewable energy company Tidal Lagoon Power.

The creation of the west Cumbrian project is dependent on the success of the firm's first tidal lagoon, planned for Swansea Bay.

And this week, a government-commissioned review, backed plans for the £1.3bn Welsh development.

The renewable energy firm could not say when work on the Solway firth project is likely to begin.

It would be a larger version of the Swansea Bay lagoon and would power homes throughout its 120-year life.

In this week's independent report, ex-energy minister Charles Hendry's independent report into the technology's viability said it would make a "strong contribution" to the UK's energy supply.

He is now urging ministers to approve plans, which could provide UK with reliable and clean electricity.

Workington MP Sue Hayman, who is shadow minister for tidal energy, has welcomed the review.

She said: "The Government must now digest the report and then do everything it can to set in motion the pathfinder tidal lagoon at Swansea Bay, so that the five full size tidal lagoons, including the one in west Cumbria, can begin construction, and so that we can reap the economic and environmental benefit.

"Together with the nuclear new-build at Moorside, the tidal lagoon at Maryport would mean that west Cumbria would be producing around 10 per cent of the UK's energy needs."

Mrs Hayman is now "urging" the Government to commit to tidal lagoon power.

She added: "So that we can bridge our looming national energy gap as old power stations come offline, and so that we ensure that we meet our international climate change commitments."

Once the Swansea Bay project is up and running, the company's next planned scheme is in Cardiff, which it hopes to submit a planning application for in 2018.

The west Cumbria project is among four others in the pipeline, with the others at Colwyn Bay, Newport and Bridgwater Bay.

No timescales have been drawn up for the later schemes yet.

Early consultation has already taken place in west Cumbria and formal consultation, including with local fishermen, would be held before the plan went ahead.

The tidal lagoon would include giant sea walls which capture tides that could generate over two gigawatts of power.

Plans also include up to 90 turbines set within the breakwater.

It could also feature public amenities, tourist attractions and diversity schemes such as biofuels through marine farming.

It is hoped that the lagoon will help with erosion along the coast due to the calmer waters.

It would tie in with the Moorside nuclear development, as a new National Grid connection would be in place to send power north and south.