Anger as yard is snubbed

More than 500 people lost their jobs at the yard

A Devon MP is to write to Tony Blair over the blocking of a bid by Appledore shipyard for a £40m contract.

John Burnett, MP for Torridge and West Devon, says Appledore Shipbuilders, which went into receivership last year, wanted to build a new Arctic survey vessel for the Natural Environment Research Council.

DML, the owners of Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, were prepared to back the bid, but Science Minister Lord Sainsbury said the north Devon yard was not eligible while in receivership.

Mr Burnett said: "All we wanted was an opportunity to tender.

"It's a huge ship and it would have been a lifeline for the shipyard and it would have been marvellous for DML as well.

"We are not asking for any favours. All we were asking for is a right to bid and now we have been turned down."

More than 500 workers at Appledore Shipbuilders lost their jobs when receivers were called in.

Appledore had been struggling for months but gave up when its order book was empty. It called in the receivers, who then put the shipyard up for sale.

Negotiations over the future of the shipyard are continuing, but DML has signalled that it is considering using it as a base for building superyachts.