CUMBRIA County Council is backing plans for a new nuclear power station at Moorside, Sellafield.

But it says that the project must be accompanied by huge investment in infrastructure, such as road and rail.

Addressing the council's cabinet, leader Stewart Young said that the authority needed the Government or NuGen - the firm behind the Moorside proposal - to stump up cash in advance to fund improvements.

However, the council was backing the development because of the huge economic benefits it is likely to bring to the county.

Mr Young said: “While we are broadly supportive, this project will require significant additional investment to secure the right infrastructure to support the construction of Moorside and its three new nuclear reactors.

"The sheer scale of this nuclear project is unprecedented for Cumbria and in fact unprecedented for the UK.

"To ensure that everyone benefits we need a guarantee from Government or NuGen or both of extensive additional investment into services like the county’s infrastructure, such as roads, railways and ports, as well as accommodation for the workforce, and the development of skills to ensure that as many jobs as possible are taken by Cumbrians."

The call was made as part of the council's formal response to the consultation into the Moorside project, which closes next week.

"Following the submission we will then be looking to NuGen, and the Government, to ensure that robust plans are put in place to guarantee that this development results in a clear and lasting legacy for Cumbria – plans that will see Cumbria’s communities benefit from this nuclear new build for many generations to come," Mr Young added.

NuGen is due to make a final decision on whether to proceed with its plans for three reactors at Moorside in 2018. Work is due to start by 2020.