CUMBRIA'S council leaders say any new nuclear facility built in the county must be accompanied by huge investment in the area's key infrastructure - such as the road and rail network.

During a meeting at today's Cumbria County Council cabinet meeting leader Stewart Young said that the authority needed the Government or NuGen - the firm behind the new Moorside development in west Cumbria - to stump up cash in advance so work can can begin.

However, the council was clear that it supported the development because of the huge economic benefits it is likely to bring to the county.

Mr Young said: “While we are broadly supportive, this project will require significant additional investment to secure the right infrastructure to support the construction of Moorside and its three new nuclear reactors.

"The sheer scale of this nuclear project is unprecedented for Cumbria and in fact unprecedented for the UK. To ensure that everyone benefits we need a guarantee from Government or NuGen or both of extensive additional investment into services like the county’s infrastructure, such as roads, railways and port, as well as accommodation for the workforce, and the development of skills to ensure that as many jobs as possible are taken by Cumbrians."

The call was made as part of the council's formal response to the consultation into the Moorside project.

"Following the submission we will then be looking to NuGen, and the Government, to ensure that robust plans are put in place to guarantee that this development results in a clear and lasting legacy for Cumbria – plans that will see Cumbria’s communities benefit from this nuclear new build for many generations to come," Mr Young added.

The formal consultation process ends on July 30.