Long wait for sub name lobbyists

The latest Astute class is being built at the BAE Systems shipyard

Barrow-in-Furness faces a long wait to find out if its contribution to the UK's submarine industry will be officially recognised.

Campaigners from the Cumbrian town, where submarines have been built since 1886, want the next class of vessel to be named "Barrow".

A petition on Downing Street's website has been signed by almost 500 people.

But the Royal Navy said any decision on naming the next class, currently "Astute", could take up to a decade.

The online petition was started by the town's branch of the Submariners Association.

Secretary Barrie Downer said: "There is such a thing as the Ships Names Committee, and I hope they will pay attention to this petition.

Attack submarines

"There's no reason why they shouldn't. It would show appreciation for all the effort that's been put in at Barrow over the past 100 years.

"And they usually follow in alphabetical order, so the 'B' class would logically be next."

A Royal Navy spokesman said Barrow's contribution was recognised, but that any decision on the next class of submarine could take up to 10 years.

He said the lengthy period reflected the time it took to develop a new generation of vessels.

Any new name would be decided by a standing committee of senior naval figures.

The Barrow yard built its first submarine in 1886 for the Ottoman Empire. It later constructed the Royal Navy's first submarine - the Holland class - which entered service in 1902.

Astute, the Royal Navy's latest class of nuclear attack submarines, are currently under construction at the town's BAE Systems shipyard, which employs about 3,000 people.