THERE was good news for workers at Rosyth Dockyard this week when it was confirmed that the base which built the vessel would be the venue for HMS Queen Elizabeth's first refit.

There had been concerns that maybe one of the dockyards on the south coast of England might be chosen as the base for the work but these were dismissed when the yard, which employs hundreds of people from the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, got the nod.

Queen Elizabeth's sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is currently being fitted out at the yard and a local MP is delighted with the news.

MP for Crossgates, Hill of Beath and Moss-side, Douglas Chapman said “This is one of the announcements I’ve been waiting for as, not only does it protect jobs at Rosyth dockyard, but also sets a valuable precedent which puts down a marker for future full scale refits.”

The MP for Dunfermline West added: “There is no doubt that the workforce we have in West Fife is one of the most skilled in Scotland.

"They’ve constructed the two largest ships ever procured by the Royal Navy. It’s wholly appropriate that both ships return home to Rosyth for their refits. Rosyth is willing and ready to do the work and I am delighted that the UK Government agrees with that assessment.

“Further down the line, we await U.K. decisions on Type 31 frigates and fleet support ships. Rosyth is in the mix to benefit from these contracts too. Again I urge the Minister to get on with coming to a decision on these contracts which would keep these valuable skills at Rosyth for a long time to come.”