New rules after radioactive scare

The Environment Agency has brought in a series of new checks after concerns were raised about radioactive waste from a nuclear power station.

A resident living near Hinkley Point in Somerset reported abnormal radiation readings at Kilve Beach when his dog died after walking there.

When Environment Agency officers checked the beach, they found only background levels of radiation.

But as a precaution the agency has introduced a new series of surveys.

Environment Agency staff carried out extra checks at Kilve Beach between October 2005 and March 2006.

At the same time, regular tests by the power station's operators revealed slightly elevated levels of Strontium-90 in two sediment samples.

The agency said these were within safe limits and posed no threat either to the environment or human health.

But spokesman Anil Koshti said: "As a precaution we have advised Hinkley A site operators to cease certain pond operations until we are satisfied that sufficient measures are in place to ensure levels of radioactivity are kept to a minimum."