The government is to be asked to retain vital shipbuilding work at Barrow's jobs-blighted shipyard.

On Tuesday, BAE announced 700 job losses at its Cumbria yard, 265 on the Clyde, and 50 from its site at Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Now Barrow's Labour MP John Hutton has secured a meeting with Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach, to discuss the issue.

The company has claimed the job losses were needed to "maximise efficiency".

Submarine operations

Mr Hutton will be joined by members of Furness Enterprise and a trade union delegation at the meeting with Lord Bach on 27 January.

Mr Hutton said: "This announcement by BAE has sent shockwaves through Furness."

The Procurement Minister will be asked to bring forward orders for Royal Navy submarines.

BAE says it wants Barrow to become the centre of its submarine operations.

The jobs blow came as the Barrow yard was awaiting news on whether it had won a government contract to build two new aircraft carriers.