Campaigners are calling for power plant waste to be contained rather than discharged into the River Blackwater.

Magnox, which manages the Bradwell power plant site, recently announced it had recommenced the release of liquid waste into the river after an eight month break.

The reason it had suspended its waste discharges for the last eight months was because of a “small” acid leak into a containment hold.

Magnox received a warning letter from the Environment Agency, but stressed there was not a release of radioactivity into the environment and therefore no danger was posed to the public.

Treated waste is now being released once into the estuary at high tide to “ensure the widest dispersion”.

Varrie Blower, of Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG), has argued that liquid waste should be encapsulated and stored at Bradwell rather than discharged into the river. 

A Magnox spokesman said: “Bradwell has been licensed to make discharges into the Blackwater estuary since it first started operation in 1962.

“The level of permitted discharge is set to ensure that even the most exposed person is not put at risk."