PORTLAND could be the ideal reserve port for two new aircraft carriers currently under construction, it has been claimed.

South Dorset MP Jim Knight said talks are set to get under way soon in the hopes of establishing the island as the back-up base for the multi-million pound Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales carriers.

Mr Knight stressed that the carriers' reintroduction would not mean the establishment of a new naval base but that Portland may be well suited to accommodate the 65,000-tonne vessels.

He said: "The fact is that Portland is one of the few ports in the South that one of the carriers could physically fit into.

"I will be working with the port and discussing with the Ministry of Defence the possibility of those carriers spending time here as their reserve base. It would not only revive the port's strong naval connections but would be a great boost for the local economy too.

"The Royal Fleet Auxiliary still uses Portland heavily to this day and the reintroduction of nuclear submarines to the port has opened a crack in the door to a certain extent for the reintroduction of naval operations."

Portland Port non-executive director Rupert Best said: "Some years ago there was some discussion about using Portland as a base for new carriers, along with Portsmouth and Southampton. At the time Portsmouth was chosen as the main base and Southampton as the reserve.

"But there is now a new terminal at Dibden Bay in Southampton which may affect carrier movements there and the port's suitability for this type of vessel.

"I don't think there's any suggestion of Portland becoming the carriers' main base but it could make a good reserve port."

Mr Best added that if a harbour revision order, which is currently being consulted upon, is passed then the port will be able to create more deep water docking facilities in time for the Olympics.

Mr Best said: "You could reasonably speculate that with the completion of those facilities the port will be a suitable place to dock vessels of this size."

The carriers are being built in Portsmouth and in Scotland with management and design work taking place in Bristol.