PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak says Barrow is facing a 'really bright future' with £200 million being pumped into the town over the next decade.

The PM made his first official visit to Barrow to tour BAE's shipyard and meet apprentices at the firm's Academy for Skills and Knowledge.

Mr Sunak declared himself a 'huge believer and backer of Barrow' as he paid tribute to the work of shipyard staff.

Alongside Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, Mr Sunak checked in on the progress of Barrow's Astute class submarines after declaring a 'critical national endeavour' to secure the nuclear industry’s future.

Speaking to The Mail, he said: "You can see from my visit today and what we're announcing that I'm a huge believer and backer of Barrow.

"Not only does it have a fantastic MP making the case, it's mission critical for our country that Barrow's future is bright.

"And that's what today's visit is about: long-term transformational funding for Barrow on top of the significant investment that's already gone through the Towns Fund and the Levelling Up Fund.

"But I want to see Barrow to continue to prosper, I want it to be a fantastic place for people to live, work, raise a family.

"We're making progress and today's announcement will make sure the future is really bright."

The Mail: Rishi Sunak met apprentices at the shipyard

The PM said he was 'enormously proud' of the work carried out in the shipyard, adding: "It's just so important to our country and we're lucky to have such talented hardworking people all from the local area who have decided to build their careers helping keep this country safe for years into the future and that's a really inspiring thing to see."

Announcing the funding boost for Barrow, he said: "Our nuclear capability underpins both our national security, when it comes to our nuclear deterrent and nuclear submarines, but also our energy security and the importance of nuclear power for the future.

"That's why today we're making a transformational investment in our nuclear capability to safeguard the country's future, making sure, together with industry, that we create thousands more apprenticeships, graduate schemes, PhDs, building our nuclear skills base, but also investing in Barrow."

Money is being awarded to Barrow in the shape of a nearly £11 million sum for the A595 Grizebeck bypass, £5 million into a Barrow Work and Health Fund and £5 million into a Social Impact Fund for charities and groups in the area.

A further £20 million is due to follow each year over the next ten years.

Downing Street says it would provide grants to local organisations and improvements to transport and health outcomes in the area.

The Prime Minister denied the funding was influenced by Barrow being a marginal seat, with polls predicting a Labour victory at the next General Election.

John Healey, Labour’s shadow defence secretary, welcomed the Government’s commitment but said Labour had 'long argued' for ministers to secure jobs in Barrow and that Britain would be 'better defended' under his party.

During the visit the Prime Minister was asked about comments to Times Radio earlier on Monday by nuclear minister Andrew Bowie, who acknowledged plans for the industry were long overdue.

Mr Sunak told reporters: "What we have seen under the Conservatives has been a renaissance in the nuclear industry and that's because the Conservative Party is one that unequivocally backs nuclear power and our nuclear deterrent.

"That just hasn't been the case under the last Labour government.

"These decisions do take time, but if you look at what's happened since 2010, we have green-lighted Sizewell C (and) Hinckley Point, so two nuclear power stations, we are making progress on small modular reactors and we have recommitted to our nuclear deterrent and a new generation of nuclear submarines and a replacement warhead.

"All of that has happened under a Conservative Government."

Earlier, Mr Bowie said: "I make no bones about it, we should have done this years ago. We are running to catch up.

"But we have just this year delivered our civil nuclear road map, we have announced our intention to build a third gigawatt project, we are investing £350 million in new nuclear power to ease Vladimir Putin out of the nuclear fuels market, we are actually committed to delivering small modular reactors through our competition which will conclude this year.

"But of course this should have been done years ago, which is why we are having to take the action in the way that we are right now."