No nuclear risk: Major fire at British nuclear submarine shipyard

Firefighters are battling a major blaze at a British shipyard where nuclear submarines are built and maintained.

The fire broke out at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Saturday evening.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there was no nuclear risk and that the fire was not in a nuclear area of the shipyard.

The fire service said it had sent 10 fire engines and an aerial ladder platform to the scene.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

BAE Systems said in a statement: "We can confirm that there has been a fire at our shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

"The fire is now under control and there are no reported injuries.

"The fire was not in a nuclear area of the shipyard and there is no nuclear risk."

The MoD said in a statement: "We are aware of the fire at BAE Systems' shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

"The fire is not in a nuclear area of the shipyard and there is no nuclear risk."

The fire service said in a statement: "We were called to a fire at BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness at 6.45pm on Saturday evening.

"We have sent 10 fire engines and an aerial ladder platform to the scene."

The fire service said the fire was now under control and that there were no reported injuries.