BRITAIN needs to be ready to defend the Falkland Islands amid a "raising of the temperature" in the South Atlantic says a city MP.

The 1982 conflict with Argentina was evoked by Alison Seabeck for Plymouth Devonport as she stressed the importance of having a 'strong' Navy, including aircraft carriers.

While there was no suggestion of another war, Ms Seabeck told the Commons there was a need to be ready "should the unlikely need arise to protect the interests of the Falkland Islanders".

She warned against "falling into the trap" of believing the Navy was no longer relevant, and stressed the importance of the service to the nation's defence.

Her comments come amid continuing concerns the Navy is being sidelined, and could be first in line for cuts, including major projects such as two new aircraft carriers and a replacement for the Trident nuclear submarine system.

Earlier this year The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, warned that Afghanistan is not the "only game in town" and that the UK had to be ready for "surprises and strategic shocks", like the Falklands crisis.

Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton Linda Gilroy has also highlighted the 'danger' of people being 'Army-centric' because of the Afghan conflict.

Tensions have been heightened in the South Atlantic after the move by UK companies to begin to search for oil in the Falklands, despite strong opposition from Argentina.

Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. It invaded them in 1982, before a UK taskforce, which set out from Plymouth, seized back control in a short war that claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel.

Speaking at Westminster, Ms Seabeck said: "The Navy is vital to this nation's defence and to our ability to maintain relevance at the top tables of international diplomacy."

She was critical of recent comments by former head of the armed forces General Lord Guthrie who said that a stronger Army was the priority, and called for naval cutbacks.

Ms Seabeck said: "We in Plymouth, from where the taskforce left and to which it returned, fewer in number, at the end of the conflict, have not forgotten the Falklands war.

"Although there is no suggestion of another war, and clearly diplomatic and Foreign Office effort has been put into ensuring that no further military action is required, there has been a raising of the temperature in the south Atlantic.

"We need to be ready, should the unlikely need arise, to protect the interests of the Falkland Islanders. We would need a strong Navy and carriers, which are already being built.

"The Navy must be able to take our air defence to places where there is no friendly country willing to allow us to use air bases, and to take our Army personnel and Royal Marines to a position in which they can make landings. Defence Minister Bill Rammell agreed there could not be a "wholly Army-centric" approach.