UK nuclear subs 'safety fears'

HMS Tireless has been docked in Gibraltar since May

Fears have been raised about the safety of the Navy's nuclear-powered Trafalgar-class submarines following reports that almost all are unfit for service.

"Six out of seven" UK submarines capable of carrying Cruise missiles are currently out of action - either in dry dock or being tested - says The Sunday Telegraph.

However the Ministry of Defence denied the figures, saying three of the submarines are available for operational duties.

The Navy has 16 submarines in all, and the paper adds that three of its five Swiftsure class submarines are also out of action.

Navy cuts

The Trafalgar-class submarines are the most modern nuclear-powered hunter-killer boats in the Navy fleet.

Conservative Party says cuts to the Navy made the Labour government are partly to blame for the situation.

Shadow defence secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said: "Our submarines need highly-trained crews and to do this they need to be at sea.

"Labour has cut the Navy so much that the truth may be that we do not have an operational fleet anymore."

Long delays

Naval chiefs have already expressed concerns about Trafalgar-class submarine, the Tireless, says the newspaper.

It was forced to dock in Gibraltar in May after it was found to have a leak from its cooling pipes.

Repairs have been delayed due to a disagreement with the authorities in Gibraltar.

The safety concerns come just weeks after the Russian nuclear submarine, the Kursk, suffered a catastrophic explosion which sent it to the bottom of the Barents sea.

Despite desperate rescue attempts, all 118 crewmen on board died.