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Sellafield partly closed after 'above normal' radiation Sellafield partly closed after 'above normal' radiation
(about 2 hours later)
The Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria is partially closed after "elevated levels of radioactivity" were detected.The Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria is partially closed after "elevated levels of radioactivity" were detected.
A perimeter alarm has been triggered at the north of the site and each building is being checked, a spokesman said. Each building was checked after a perimeter alarm was triggered at the north of the site.
No evidence of radioactive release or accident had been found but "there can be no guessing on nuclear sites", he added. The company later said it was naturally occurring background radiation, and not attributable to any issue or problem with any operation on site.
The company stressed there was no risk to the public or workforce. A spokesman stressed there was no risk to the public or workforce.
Director of stakeholder relations Rory O'Neill said: "One of the 20-odd site perimeter monitors that we have is registering above normal levels of radiation. He added: "There can be no guessing on nuclear sites".
Rory O'Neill, director of stakeholder relations, said: "One of the 20-odd site perimeter monitors that we have is registering above normal levels of radiation.
"It's not a level that would trigger any kind of activity on or off site. It's below levels that would demand us to do sheltering or anything like that.""It's not a level that would trigger any kind of activity on or off site. It's below levels that would demand us to do sheltering or anything like that."
'Right decision''Right decision'
In a statement, The Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "We are in constant contact with Sellafield but we have no reason to believe that it is any more serious than they've said."In a statement, The Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "We are in constant contact with Sellafield but we have no reason to believe that it is any more serious than they've said."
Part of the plant is being cleared to allow detailed investigations and the "relevant experts" are on site, a Sellafield spokesman said.Part of the plant is being cleared to allow detailed investigations and the "relevant experts" are on site, a Sellafield spokesman said.
That the alarm had detected naturally occurring levels of radiation could not be ruled out, he added.
David Moore, chairman of the West Cumbria Cumbria Stakeholders' Group, an independent watchdog funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said the company's actions did not imply "anything has gone wrong on the site".David Moore, chairman of the West Cumbria Cumbria Stakeholders' Group, an independent watchdog funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said the company's actions did not imply "anything has gone wrong on the site".
"They've never been scared to raise the levels for safety," he said. "I think they've taken the right decision here.""They've never been scared to raise the levels for safety," he said. "I think they've taken the right decision here."
Day personnel, agency staff and contractors have been told to stay at home. Day personnel, agency staff and contractors have been told to stay at home until Monday.
Other workers, including transport and utilities personnel, are working as normal "in support of plant continuity requirements".Other workers, including transport and utilities personnel, are working as normal "in support of plant continuity requirements".
Paddy Regan, professor of nuclear physics at the University of Surrey, said removing staff from site in such circumstances was "standard protocol" and a "sensible precaution" although rare.Paddy Regan, professor of nuclear physics at the University of Surrey, said removing staff from site in such circumstances was "standard protocol" and a "sensible precaution" although rare.
The alarm would be reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency but was not currently at a level measured by the International Nuclear Event Scale, though it might be when the cause is understood, Sellafield said. The alarm would be reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency but was not currently at a level measured by the International Nuclear Event Scale, Sellafield said.
As well as reprocessing nuclear fuel, Sellafield houses most of the country's highly radioactive waste and its whole civil plutonium stockpile.As well as reprocessing nuclear fuel, Sellafield houses most of the country's highly radioactive waste and its whole civil plutonium stockpile.
Malcolm Grimston, an energy expert from think tank Chatham House, said there had been a "real cultural change" at the company which meant it was "much more open and honest" but made it difficult to know whether this event is a "local anomaly or something more serious". Malcolm Grimston, an energy expert from think tank Chatham House, said there had been a "real cultural change" at the company which meant it was "much more open and honest".