One of the UK's most senior Roman Catholics has joined the growing calls for a replacement of Trident to be abandoned.

Following a large Commons rebellion, churches and other campaigners against Trident renewal have continued to express their opposition to the government's nuclear policy

The Catholic Bishop of Lancaster has said the UK government is fuelling the development of nuclear weapons around the world.

Church leaders have given their backing to a report by MPs which challenges the government's proposals to replace the Trident nuclear missile system.

On the day that UK Prime Minister Blair declared that Britain could not afford to be without weapons on mass destruction, and that nuclear arms constitute a "final insurance policy", leading church leaders urged him to think again.

Nineteen Church of England bishops have joined a growing chorus of church voices including Methodists, Roman Catholics, Quakers and the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland, in urging Prime Minister Tony Blair to halt plans to replace Britain's ageing fleet of Trident nuclear-armed submarines.