News of A&P Group winning a £239m Ministry of Defence contract has been met with overwhelmingly positive reactions.

Harbour master Mark Samson said: "This is tremendous news for the Port of Falmouth as well as for the docks workforce and the local economy. Economic port services rely on shipping movement numbers and the contract will ensure that a section of the RFA fleet will continue to be regular callers at Falmouth.

"The direct effect of the port activities on our local economy is very significant and this contract will help ensure that this continues."

Richard Gates, town manager, said: "This is excellent news for A&P, Falmouth and the wider community. With the supply chain being so extensive for the dockyard, this contract significantly benefits many businesses and communities either directly or indirectly."

The contract means that the Falmouth dockyard will carry out maintenance work for the navy's Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) fleet for the next ten years.

A&P Falmouth will refit four RFA vessels (RFA Lyme Bay, RFA Cardigan Bay, RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Argus) as well as one Royal Navy vessel, the hydrographic ocean survey vessel HMS Scott.

The contract is part of a wider £1bn deal announced by defence minister Stuart Andrew that will provide jobs at shipyards across the country.

Gerald Pitts, managing director of the A&P Defence Division, said: "Winning this contract is the culmination of two years of hard work by the bid team - drawing on the reputation and experience of A&P from the collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Defence - based on shared objectives."

To date, A&P Group has carried out eight major refits and 117 maintenance packages on RFA ships, completed 39 overseas work packages and managed and installed more than 500 alterations and additions packages for the Ministry of Defence.