The leaders of the main Christian denominations have written a joint letter to MPs urging them to reject the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons system - branding such a move 'immoral'.

An all-faiths vigil is to be held outside Parliament as the House of Commons votes on the Government's plans to replace Trident.

A Catholic bishop in Scotland yesterday made a political intervention ahead of elections in May, by denouncing the Labour establishment in Holyrood and Westminster for creating "morality devoid of any Christian principle".

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

The need for churches to be vigilant about nuclear proliferation has been stressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee in a statement adopted at its 27 February - 2 March meeting in Bossey, near Geneva.

The Church of England yesterday strengthened its opposition to the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Up to 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets in London and Glasgow today (Saturday 24 February 2007) to call for an end to the war in Iraq, a non-military resolution of tensions involving Iran, and the scrapping of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Church leaders and Christians were among the protestors.

With a critical UK parliamentary vote due in March 2007 on the issue of the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system, Christians marked Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the annual Lenten season of repentance) by gathering in Central London today to make known their opposition to Britain's possession of weapons of mass destruction.

Well-known thespian Emma Thompson and Anglican Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler are among 100 public figures spanning the arts, science, politics, academia, the churches and civic life who have joined together to oppose Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to spend vast amounts of money on replacing Britain's Trident nuclear fleet.