THE SNP has described as "chilling" reports of a sharp rise in the number of safety blunders at Faslane and Coulport nuclear bomb and submarine bases on the Clyde.

Internal Ministry of Defence documents show there have been 316 "nuclear safety events," 2044 fire alarms and 71 fires in the last five years at the Royal Navy's controversial facilities at Faslane and Coulport near Helensburgh.

There have also been more than 3000 industrial accidents, classed as 'near misses', a positive test for illegal drugs and a series of difficulties with wild animals.

Angus Robertson MP, the Scottish National Party's leader at Westminster and its defence spokesman, now plans to raise the issue in the Commons and demand action from the MoD.

He said: "These new figures are chilling and once again show how widespread nuclear safety breaches are at Faslane.

"Wherever nuclear weapons are concerned, safety must be paramount. We need to know exactly what is being done to address these breaches and tighten procedures."

The MoD's last four annual health and safety reports covering 2009-10 to 2012-13 show the number of nuclear safety events reported increased 15% from 59 in 2011-12 to 68 in 2012-13.

Incidents involving nuclear weapons rose from seven to 11, while those involving submarine reactors rose from 52 to 57.

An MoD spokesman said safety was of paramount importance, and the reporting system captures the most minor incidents.

He added: "It is entirely misleading to focus only on the number of incidents detailed in these reports."