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Explosives experts called to Sellafield Explosives experts called to Sellafield over chemical concerns
(about 3 hours later)
Explosive experts have been called to Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant after an incident following a routine audit of chemicals stored on the site. Bomb disposal experts were called to the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant after a routine audit of chemicals stored on the site.
Staff had been disposing of chemicals, which had been stored at the site in Cumbria since 1992, when the incident happened. Sellafield Ltd would not confirm the identity of the "range of substances" but said they were non-nuclear and had been on the site since 1992.
Sellafield Limited, which runs the plant, said it was routine to call in experts, but no explosion took place. However, there were concerns they could become hazardous if exposed to oxygen.
It would not confirm whether the incident involved nuclear materials. A spokesman said no explosion had taken place and there was no reason for people living locally to be concerned.
A number of buildings on the site are reported to have been evacuated overnight after what the firm called a routine audit of chemicals. Mark Neate, the site's security and resilience director, said experts will now be looking to extract those materials and dispose of them.
In a statement, it said it was now considering how to best dispose of the material. He said: "We have all the appropriate experts, it's a routine process, I see no reason for any concern.
"As a matter of precaution, what we did was put a cordon around the material and moved people out of that cordon.
"There was no evacuation of the site."
Environment Agency said it was aware of the situation and was working with partners to monitor it.
Sellafield reprocesses and stores nearly all of Britain's nuclear waste.Sellafield reprocesses and stores nearly all of Britain's nuclear waste.
Last year, BBC's Panorama exposed safety concerns at the plant after a tip-off from a whistleblower, including allegations of inadequate staffing levels and poor maintenance.Last year, BBC's Panorama exposed safety concerns at the plant after a tip-off from a whistleblower, including allegations of inadequate staffing levels and poor maintenance.