Mps have voted overwhelmingly to renew the country's nuclear weapon system.

Mp for Braintree James Cleverly was one of 471 who voted for renewing Trident, alongside Witham Mp Priti Patel, on Monday evening. 

Parliament was asked to agree to spend up to £30 billion renewing the four Trident submarines equipped with nuclear missiles and warheads.

At any time during the day or night there will always be one submarine patrolling the sea.

In a statement posted on social media sites Mr Cleverly said: "Experience shows us that it is far from certain that our future will be more peaceful than our past, we must work towards a better future but we must also be prepared for the worst.

"Our independent, credible nuclear defence system has had a huge part to play in deterring aggression against our allies and ourselves.

"It is a highly visible reminder of our commitment to our Nato allies and the driver of significant levels of domestic economic activity.

"In an ideal world we would not need and would not have invented such terrible weapons, but the world is neither ideal nor predictable."

The submarines carry up to eight Trident missiles, which can each can be fitted with numerous warheads.

So far 13 other countries also have nuclear weapons, including: USA, Russia, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.