The man in charge of plans for a £10bn Cumbrian nuclear new build and 21,000 jobs says the project has "100 per cent backing" from troubled Japanese giant Toshiba.

Tom Samson - the chief executive of NuGen, which has plans for a power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield - made the comments after his company announced that it was having a "review of its options" on the proposals.

Toshiba has a 60 per cent stake in NuGen and is soon set to take full control.

This change came about after the Japanese giant's American subsidiary Westinghouse Electric filed for bankruptcy, prompting NuGen's other shareholder, French firm ENGIE, to use legal agreements to sell its stake to Toshiba.

Toshiba is forecast to make a £6.5bn loss for the last year of business and has missed a deadline to file its final year accounts in Japan.

The firm has insisted it remains committed to Moorside - and has also said it wants to sell its stake in the future - but its financial situation has prompted fears over the development's future.

Mr Samson has insisted that there is a "universe of options" for taking the project forward.

He said: "The key exam questions are straightforward in the circumstances. What is the best option for Moorside in technology and funding, to allow us to progress this phenomenal project of national significance, with confidence.”

It is predicted that a completed plant at Moorside would supply up to seven per cent of the UK's electricity.

“We have achieved a great deal so far, and the Moorside project has created significant international interest," he said.

"Westinghouse has achieved design acceptance for the AP1000 reactor (three of which are planned for use at Moorside) from the UK nuclear regulators and this is of major benefit to the UK.

"So this, along with other considerations, including options for new partners, will form part of our review."

He added: "We have 100 per cent backing from Toshiba as we move forward through this transition.”

NuGen has also set up an independent panel including experts on nuclear power and major infrastructure projects.

Mr Samson added: “It is incumbent on NuGen to come up with answers to these difficult exam questions.

"Once we have completed the strategic review and consulted on our findings with the Government we can begin to redefine our timelines – and then we will hit the fast-forward button.”

Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) have said they are interested in buying into Moorside. Business Secretary Greg Clark visited South Korea earlier this year to meet with potential investors in Moorside but did not reveal if Kepco was one of these.