Centrica said it will secure 350 jobs after announcing a £60 million investment in its operations offshore in Morecambe Bay.

The project to refurbish two 5,000-tonne platforms in the East Irish Sea, expected to start later this month, will boost output from the fields which already produce enough gas to heat 1.5 million UK homes.

Once complete, the project will unlock up to a further three billion cubic feet of gas under the East Irish Sea by simplifying the process required to get it to shore.

Tamsin Lishman, Morecambe Bay Director for Centrica’s Exploration & Production business said: “The Morecambe Bay fields have been a cornerstone of our business since first gas flowed into the Barrow Gas Terminals more than 30 years ago, so we are delighted to continue investing in their future.

“With nearly 300 billion cubic feet of gas still in place under the East Irish Sea, major projects like this will help ensure we maximise the potential of these fields and continue supplying gas for UK homes and businesses.”