The site for the country’s cyber-centre which will protect the security of the country will be based in East Lancashire – the government have announced.

The permanent site for the National Cyber Force which will help keep the country safe from offensive cyber operations will be established in Samlesbury.

The NCF will draw together personnel from intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, the Ministry of Defence, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, under one unified command for the first time.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “This is the biggest news to hit Lancashire since British Aerospace setting up here decades ago- wonderful news.

“Huge well-paid jobs coming and superb opportunities.”

Mr Evans has been lobbying for the new headquarters to be based in Samlesbury along with Commons Speaker and Chorley MP, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

The centre will protect against offensive cyber operations which can disrupt hostile state activities, terrorists and criminals from threatening the UK’s national security - from countering terror plots to conducting military operations.

GCHQ already has an office in Manchester and the city is Europe’s fastest growing major tech cluster, with more than 15 per cent of the area’s population employed by the digital, creative and technology sector.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The National Cyber Force located in Samlesbury will embrace exciting new offensive cyber technologies and provide thousands of highly skilled jobs and expertise to the North West.

“I am hugely proud and enthusiastic to see this happen, not only will it provide a catalyst for investment, but also see our levelling up agenda bring economic stimulus and tangible benefits to this region.”

Government officials say the UK has been a world leader on offensive cyber operations, with GCHQ pioneering the use and development of these techniques.

In 2016 the-then Defence Secretary confirmed the UK was conducting cyber operations against Daesh and in 2018, the director of GCHQ revealed how it had degraded ISIS propaganda networks through cyber operations.