The Ministry of Defence is to hold two public meetings to explain plans to open up a decommissioned nuclear submarine to visitors.

Members of the public are invited to the meetings, at the Welcome Hall in Devonport, at 2pm and 7pm on Tuesday January 22, which are intended to explain to local residents and businesses what the plans are and to answer questions.

A presentation will be given by Capt John Binns, Captain of Base Safety at Devonport, and Cdr Charles Crichton, Naval Base Liaison Officer.

The meeting will be chaired by Andy Moore, chairman of the Naval Nuclear Regulatory Panel.

The idea to put a nuclear submarine on public display in Devonport has been in MOD officials' minds since 1994.

Naval Base Commander Commodore Ric Cheadle said: "We want to take the mystery out of how a nuclear-powered submarine works and let the public see for themselves how safe they are and to learn about how we maintain and operate them.

"Opening one up to the public is the easiest way to do this. Putting Courageous on display is in line with our plans to expand the Visitors Centre and the Naval Base Museum to make us more accessible to the general public."

The Navy aims to have the submarine open and available for members of the public to visit during Navy Days this year, making it the only such vessel in the country.

HMS Courageous was launched in Barrow in March 1970, the sixth nuclear-powered Fleet submarine in the Royal Navy.

As a hunter-killer, she was designed to detect enemy submarines and destroy them using torpedoes. She had a top speed submerged of more than 20 knots, and had a ship's company of around 120.

She decommissioned in April 1992.