New nuclear option sought

A study will try to find an alternative to Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent – despite the signing of a £3bn deal for a new generation of missile-armed submarines.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said in the Commons he believed a submarine-based ballistic missile system remained the most effective deterrent.

The move is another concession to the Liberal Democrats who have already succeeded in putting back a decision on the final order for the submarines to 2016.