Campaigners have renewed calls to halt plans to dissolve metal casings surrounding spent fuel rods at Bradwell Power Station.

Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group fear discharge from the process will be released in the Blackwater Estuary.

A spokesman for Magnox, which runs Bradwell Power Station, said: “The process, which is based on the safe and successful dissolution experience elsewhere, will reduce the volume of FED by more than 90 per cent."

Effluent will be discharged within authorised limits agreed by the Environment Agency, he added.