A fuel firm will power the country's nuclear renaissance over the next decade, according to its boss.

Springfields Fuels managing director Mike Tynan has also revealed the company would create 250 jobs at its factory in Salwick, near Preston, as the workload stepped up.

The site already employs 1,750 despite expectations that numbers would have fallen to 650 by now and the boss expects to take number to more than 2,000 by 2010.

It is also on the brink of signing a number of deals to supply nuclear fuel to energy companies across the world.

Mr Tynan said: "This site has been at the heart of the nuclear power programme for 60 years and my mission is to ensure this site builds fuel for the third generation of reactors which will come on line around 2017.

"In this industry the planning horizons are so long that when work starts in 2012 we will have to start thinking about how to fuel them.

"This site will remain the UK's nuclear fuel manufacturer for many years to come."

Mr Tynan said he expected the government to choose more than one type of reactor to be used in the new build of power stations in the UK, with the AP1000 model built by Springfields parent company Toshiba-Westinghouse expected to be in the running.

It had been feared a 'pact' between the UK and French governments would see energy giant EDF picked as the preferred builder, but Mr Tynan said that Springfields would be a serious contender whichever type of reactor were chosen.

The managing director said: "If the Westinghouse reactor is not built in the UK, we have the capability and the expertise to supply fuel for any type of reactor.

"I have been across the world with this company and I can honestly say that the workforce here in central Lancashire is the best fuel manufacturing team in the world.

"That is not just my opinion, the statistics back it up, the motivation and skill of this workforce is second to none in the world.

"The economic value of the nuclear industry to Lancashire runs into the millions and good news for Springfields can only be good news for the local area."

The managing director insists that, despite being badged as a decommissioning site, the Fylde factory remains a "fully commercially
operating site."