Sellafield leakage probed

Last updated 15:57, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

AN INVESTIGATION is under way into a leak of liquid effluent, at Sellafield.

The incident happened, last Wednesday, at the plant that handles discharges into the Irish Sea.

Officials say the effluent, mainly water with a very low level of radioactivity, spilled from holding tanks into a concrete room designed to contain overflows.

A small amount escaped into an adjacent concrete corridor.

A Sellafield spokesman said: “All material was recovered. Radiation monitoring confirmed that the liquid was of such low radioactivity that no further work was required to decontaminate the area.

“An investigation is under way to understand more about how the incident happened.”

It is understood that the plant was closed for maintenance when the spillage occurred. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency have been informed.