A longstanding shipbuilders in north Devon is to reopen after being bought in a £7m deal.

Appledore Shipyard closed in March 2019 after owners Babcock said its future was not "secure", despite the offer of a £60m Ministry of Defence contract.

The site's new owners InfraStrata said the yard's ability to cater for smaller vessels was "a market segment that cannot be ignored".

Unions have welcomed the deal and urged the government to give the yard orders.

Speaking during a visit to Appledore on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the shipyard had a "massive history but it's also got a great future".

"What we want to do is to ensure that there's a good enough stream of contracts coming through to drive jobs and growth here in Devon," Mr Johnson said.

The yard will now be operated under the name Harland and Wolff (Appledore), after the much larger Belfast site the same owner bought in December last year.

InfraStrata said the yard had been dormant for some time and currently only has one employee - the site manager.

The workforce can be "very quickly ramped up" if contracts for work are secured, the company said.

source: BBC News