THOUSANDS of jobs have been safeguarded in Furness following a vote to renew the UK's nuclear weapons programme.

MPs voted in favour of a government motion to renew the Trident missile system, which is carried onboard four Barrow-built submarines.

Tony Johns, the managing director of BAE Systems Submarines, said that it was 'excellent news'.

"Parliamentary approval for the Successor programme is excellent news for BAE Systems and the hundreds of UK organisations in our supply chain," he said."We now move ahead into the construction phase of the four-boat Successor programme.

"We enter construction with a highly mature design and significant investment in operating systems, facilities and skills.

“We are incredibly proud of the role we play in delivering nuclear submarines to the Royal Navy to help protect the UK’s national security and interests around the world."

There were 472 MPs who voted in favour of the renewal of Trident, whereas 177 voted against following a lengthy debate on Monday.

There are currently some 7,000 workers at the shipyard, and Mr Johns has said that the 1,700 workforce on the Successor programme would grow to 5,000.

Although the mood may be jubilant at BAE, South Lakes MP Tim Farron, was one of the 177 MPs who voted against Trident.

"The Lib Dems are proposing an alternative to the government’s policy of like-for-like replacement of Trident," Mr Farron said. "Under our plans, Britain would not unilaterally disarm, so would still use submarines manufactured in Barrow.

“Having submarines patrolling the high seas 24/7, 365 days a year does not help us to tackle the challenges that we face in the 21st century, especially in a time when our defence budget is so thinly stretched.”

In comparison, John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, called the decision a 'great victory' for the area.

"I want to pay tribute to the whole community which has fought for so long for this day," he said. "I am very proud to have been able to play my part in our campaign to secure the future of the shipyard and keep high-skill jobs in Barrow for decades to come."

Cllr Ben Berry, leader of the South Lakes Conservatives, shared Mr Woodcock's sentiments adding that Trident was the 'ultimate insurance' and therefore 'entirely sensible'.