Nuclear regulator warns Dounreay operator of rust and leaks

A regulator has raised safety concerns about the condition of some areas of the Dounreay nuclear power station.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) discovered corroded steel structures and leaks in pits for low-level radioactive waste in a building where drums of radioactive sodium were stored.

Dounreay's operator, NRS, said urgent repairs were being carried out and that an action plan was in place to resolve any further problems.

These included warnings from ONR about old and defective electrical equipment and about a chemical inventory at the site that exceeded established limits.

Dounreay opened almost 70 years ago on the north coast of Caithness and was the UK's centre for fast reactor research and development until 1994.

According to the ONR, this is currently Scotland's largest nuclear power station cleanup and demolition project.

Hundreds of workers are involved in the decommissioning of Dounreay.