Scotland’s Church leaders were joined by more than 100 people at the weekend for a peace vigil outside the Faslane naval base, home to the UK's nuclear-armed submarines.

The event came within days of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombs being dropped on Japan.

The Clyde port is home of all the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines, including the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines which carry Trident nuclear missiles.

Archbishop Nolan was joined by Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Members of the Quakers, the Iona Community and the United Reform Church also took part.

The Archbishop said: "The phrase 'never again' gained much currency 80 years ago. But the actions of nuclear powers, including our own, run contrary to that.

"As the late Pope Benedict articulated, the very concept of a nuclear deterrence has instead fuelled an arms race as those on opposing sides keep seeking to outdo the other.

"We have seen this in the replacement for Trident. Deterrence itself, therefore, has increased insecurity and does nothing to build up trust which is necessary to encourage disarmament and build up peace."