PLANS to create the largest marine sanctuary in the world have won the support of a campaigning Bolton MP.

Sir David Crausby has signed up to the Back The Blue Belt campaign, organised by charity coalition Great British Oceans.

The Blue Belt will be a series of large protected areas of ocean around seven of the British Overseas Territories: Ascension Island, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha.

The ocean around these territories contains breeding grounds for a quarter of the world’s penguins, a third of the world’s albatrosses, endangered turtles, and the world’s largest coral atoll.

The Bolton North East MP said: “Marine Protected Areas are a productive, cost-effective way to preserve the ocean’s wildlife.

“Our oceans contain some of the most amazing creatures and the world would be a much poorer place if we allowed that to change. I’m happy to support the campaign and I hope the Government will work with the Overseas Territories to make this happen.”