Cardinal Keith O'Brien was the first to sign the petition

Leaders of The Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church signed the paper in Edinburgh.

Four Trident nuclear submarines have been based at Faslane on the Clyde as part of Britain's nuclear deterrent.

In January, the defence secretary said a decision on its future would be taken within four years.

Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, was the first signatory.

The petition also called for money for Trident's replacement to be diverted towards aid and development.

'Bring life'

The Commons defence committee is examining whether the UK should replace Trident, which is expected to be obsolete by 2020.

Cardinal O'Brien, who is also Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, is a long-standing campaigner against Trident.

He called on the government to replace the weapons system with projects that "bring life to the poor".

Trident is expected to be obsolete by 2020

The cardinal said: "I welcome the prime minister's recent comments that there should be the 'fullest possible' debate on the Trident nuclear missile system.

"The Catholic Church has clear and consistent teaching on nuclear weapons.

"The use of weapons of mass destruction would be a crime against God and against humanity that must never happen."

Morag Mylne, convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council, described the weapons system as "morally repugnant".

She said: "There are certain issues which unite the churches in Scotland. One of these is our revulsion at the continued presence of weapons of mass destruction.