A former defence secretary has warned the UK Government's Trident review risks showing other countries how to create their own nuclear weapons system "on the cheap".

Lord Browne said the inquiry could accelerate the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

It follows the Labour peer's call earlier this week for the UK to scrap the policy which keeps its nuclear deterrent at sea 24 hours a day.

However, Lord Browne warned that its other recommendations could result in unintended consequences and leave the world a much more dangerous place.

"I don't think it is the role of British politicians to find a cheaper way of creating a nuclear weapons system," he said. "The danger is we are creating a blueprint for proliferation.

"The last thing we want is to tell other countries around the world they can have a nuclear weapon system on the cheap".

The Liberal Democrats argue a scaled-back alternative to the ageing Trident system would still be "credible". The Tories favour a full-scale replacement and Labour have agreed.

A Cabinet Office spokesman insisted the Coalition would "complete and publish" the review of alternatives to Trident.

"The purpose of the study is to help the Liberal Democrats make the case for alternatives to the Trident system, as agreed in the Coalition Programme for Government.

"Our policy on nuclear deterrence is absolutely clear and remains as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review."