Cumbria could be set for an energy jobs boost after prime minister Gordon Brown lent his support to the county's ambition of becoming an "energy coast".

According to the North West Evening Mail, 10,000 jobs would be created for each new nuclear reactor - 9,000 of these would be construction jobs, while a further 1,000 will be needed for operational roles.

Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Brown said "it would be unfortunate" if the country did not support the nuclear industry, with rival political parties expressing doubt over the plans.

"I have fought on behalf of the nuclear industry, I believe nuclear power has a very considerable role to play in the future energy needs of our country," he explained.

"Look at the dependence on oil in other countries as well as ours, looks at the security needs of our country and they are dependent sometimes on unstable parts of the world."

More than one-third (36 per cent) of Britain's civil nuclear industry is based at Sellafield.