Closure of four nuclear power stations The closure of four of Britain's oldest nuclear power stations has been delayed over fears Labour's net zero drive could trigger electricity costs to surge and lead to blackouts.
The owner of the ageing plants, France's EDF, has agreed to extend the lives of its reactors yet again to 'boost energy security and reduce dependence on imported gas'.
The moves will see the Heysham 2 nuclear reactor in Lancashire and the Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian, Scotland, running for an additional two years to March 2030.
It is the second life extension for the two plants, which both started operating in 1988 and were originally expected to run for 30 years.
And the older Heysham 1 in Lancashire and the Hartlepool plant on Teeside will also have their operations extended - the fourth time EDF has green-light such measures.
The pair have been running since 1983 and were due to close in 2026. However, they will now continue to operate until March 2027.
The nuclear plants earmarked for extensions will remain open following safety assessments on the feasibility of keeping the ageing reactors running.
All four energy-making giants were designed in the 1960s and produce about 15 per cent of the country's power.