Shipyard owner's of Harland & Wolff in Belfast Harbour, welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to spend another £16.5bn on defence as Boris Johnson vowed to restore Britain as "the foremost naval power in Europe".

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said he hoped the announcement would help secure and create new jobs in Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson said the extra spending would "spur a renaissance of British shipbuilding across the UK, in Glasgow and south Belfast, Appledore and Birkenhead".

"Guaranteed jobs and illuminating the benefits of the Union in the white light of the arc-welders' torch.

"If there is one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense it is building more ships for the Royal Navy."

Mr Johnson said his pledge could help create 10,000 jobs a year.

The mention of Belfast and Appledore refers to the Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast and England.

InfraStrata plc acquired Harland & Wolff out of administration last year, later acquiring Appledore and renaming it H&W Appledore. Also (see MoD naval pledge). H&W in Belfast employs around 80 people.

Further reading from the Belfast Telegraph here.