South West companies have won contracts with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset worth more than £1.3billion.

More than £650million has already been spent with the region’s businesses and the project is creating opportunities for companies and workers, as well as reinvigorating UK industry, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has said.

The South West is set to benefit by £200million each year during peak construction, according to a BEIS report, with £4billion being generated for the regional economy over the lifetime of the project.

Minister for business and industry Richard Harrington MP said: ““Hinkley Point C will be pivotal in providing clean energy for the future, as well as creating high-skilled, well paid jobs right now in the South West.