Mystery surrounds huge fire at nuclear submarine shipyard

Britain's latest nuclear submarine has been damaged after a savage blaze ripped across a shipyard - as a probe battles to determine what caused the huge fire.

Two workers were hospitalised with smoke inhalation as the £1.5billion hunter-killer HMS Agincourt is said to have suffered 'substantial damage' amid the flames, The Sun reports.

The BAE Systems factory in Barrow, Cumbria is also home to Britain's Dreadnaught programme, set to replace the Trident nuclear deterrent in the 2030s. 

There was no evidence of sabotage, investigation sources told the red-top amid fears of Russian interference in the UK. Another said it appeared to be 'an industrial accident'.

Security services have been on high alert for Russian arson and sabotage attacks after mystery fires wrecked havoc across Germany, the Baltic and the UK.

Earlier this month, MI5 boss Ken McCallum warned Russia's intelligence service had worked to cause 'mayhem' - including arson - in the UK in light of British support for Ukraine in the war between the two nations.

'The UK's leading role in supporting Ukraine means we loom large in the fevered imagination of (Russian president Vladimir) Putin's regime, and we should expect to see continued acts of aggression here at home,' he said. 

'The GRU (Russian military intelligence) in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets.

'We've seen arson, sabotage and more dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness and having precisely the opposite effect of what the Russian state intends in driving increased operational co-ordination with partners across Europe and beyond.'

Police reassured residents last night as they said there was no 'nuclear risk'.

Employees have been shut out of burnt-out sections of the the site as it is deemed 'unsafe'.

Locals said the fire appeared to be centred on the six-acre Devonshire Dock Hall, the main construction site, where a £1.5bn Astute-class nuclear submarine is being assembled.

In a statement at 4am yesterday, Cumbria Police said: 'Emergency services are currently in attendance at BAE at a significant fire at the site.

'This incident was reported at around 00.44am this morning and remains on-going.

'There is no nuclear risk. However, people living nearby are advised to remain indoors whilst emergency services respond to the incident and keep doors and windows closed.

'Two people have been taken to hospital having suffered suspected smoke inhalation.

'At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else have been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for.

'A road closure is in place on Michaelson Bridge.'

BAE Systems said: 'We are working with emergency services to deal with a fire at [our] site in Barrow in Furness.'

Locals took to social media to tell of their concerns as the fire at the massive factory could be seen for miles around.

One man told the Daily Mirror he had heard a 'big thump' from the building earlier in the night.

Another resident asked: 'Isn't this really bad?' A further local said: 'It's scary because the last thing you want is BAE of all places up in flames. But if it was a threat to life or the town they would have emergency-warned everyone.'

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service added: 'Fire crews are currently dealing with an fire in the vicinity of BAE systems in Barrow, residents in the area are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area.

'We appreciated your co operation whilst we deal with the incident.'

MailOnline has contacted MoD for comment.

The historic shipyard has built all but three of the UK's fleet of nuclear submarines and has been producing vessels for more than 100 years.

The latest, HMS Agincourt, is due for completion in 2026.

It is being created alongside Australia and the US as part of the Aukus alliance, building a fleet of nuclear submarines to defend the Indo-Pacific region against Chinese aggression.

Director of Strategic Analysis Australia, a defence thinktank, Michael Shoebridge told The Australian the fire had come at an 'awful time for Aukus'.

In 2018, fire broke out on the fifth Astute-class vessel as it was being built at the site, and a year earlier several workers were hospitalised by a carbon monoxide leak there.