Churches in anti-coal power call

E.On is planning the UK's first new coal-fired power station for 24 years

Three churches have called on the government to turn away from investment into coal-fired power stations.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church have backed a report by the Committee on Climate Change.

Their document demands that Britain cuts its greenhouse gas emission by a fifth of current levels by 2020.

The churches said it would be difficult for the government to reach the targets if Kingsnorth in Kent went ahead.

'In-depth consideration'

Methodist policy adviser, Steve Hucklesby, said: "It is difficult to see how we can invest in new coal-fired power stations such as Kingsnorth and still achieve the rapid decarbonisation of our economy necessary to avert climate change.

"Coal-fired power stations produce more carbon emissions than any other generating source. We need to begin now to work for a future in which fossil fuels will be the exception, not the rule."

Following the report, Greenpeace said the advice on coal-fired power stations meant the end of plans to build a new plant at Kingsnorth.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said if the government accepted the advice of its climate change committee Kingsnorth was "dead in the water".

The climate change secretary Ed Miliband said the government would give the "report in-depth consideration".

The current Kingsnorth power station, on the Hoo peninsula, is due to close in 2015 and E.ON wants to replace it with two new coal units, which it claims will be 20% cleaner.

Medway Council gave its approval to a planning application by the energy company in January.

The final decision on the plan will now be made by the government.