MORE than 20 companies in Cumbria and Lancashire want to be part of plans to connect a proposed nuclear new build into the electricity network.

A total of 21 firms in both counties applied to be part of the project’s supply chain during a recent consultation on the North West Coast Connections project run by backers National Grid.

The company wants more local businesses to apply to become part of the supply chain.

This will transport power generated at the proposed plant - at Moorside, near Sellafield - into the electricity network.

Underground cables, 50 metre-high pylons and a tunnel under Morecambe Bay form part of the plans, along with a project to remove overhead cables near Hadrian's Wall.

Project Manager Robert Powell said: “From the start of our project we’ve worked closely with local communities and it’s great that we can now offer local businesses the chance to get involved.

“If consent is granted to build the connection, the project will create jobs during the construction phase, and we would like local people to fill a significant number of these."

He added: “We’re very pleased to have seen this much interest at so far, but we still want more and more local companies to register on our website so the local economy benefits as much as possible.”