PROTESTERS claimed a victory over power giant EDF Energy when they successfully blockaded the gates to Hinkley Point nuclear power station for 24 hours at the weekend.

The blockade was part of a wider protest against EDF's plans to build Hinkley C and to mark the first anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.

The Japanese power plant was severely damaged in last year's earthquake and tsunami and led to tens of thousands of people being forced to leave the area after radiation leaked into the atmosphere.

Japanese couple Makoto and Akiko Ishiyama, who were evacuated from the area around the Fukushima plant, were joined by leading environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and CND chairman Kate Hudson for the Hinkley rally.

While organisers from the anti-nuclear coalition Stop New Nuclear claimed more than 1,000 people took part in the event, a spokesman for EDF Energy said the figure was nearer 450.

Local anti-nuclear campaigner Crispin Aubrey of Stop Hinkley was adamant the rally had sent a clear message to EDF and the Government.

"This was one of the biggest protests ever held at Hinkley Point and showed the strength of feeling against EDF's plans.

"The new reactors would be a constant drain on public funds and we don't need nuclear power to keep the lights on."

On Saturday, coachloads of campaigners were bused to the site to listen to speakers and to form a human chain around Hinkley.

Mr Porritt said he found it "unbelievable" that nuclear energy was being put forward as a solution to climate change and called on the Government to rethink its energy strategy.

He said: "It is clear we can do everything we need to do without nuclear power.

"In Germany, they are working towards a nuclear-free future that is affordable and realistic.

"Why is it we don't think Germany is a really good model to follow?"

Ms Lucas said the £60 billion being channelled into nuclear developments would be better spent on renewable energy sources, while Ms Hudson accused the Government of an "insane and criminal addiction" to both nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

Nancy Birch, spokesman for Kick Nuclear, said the weekend protest had captured the public's "minds and hearts".

She added: "We heard first-hand from a young Japanese couple of the desperate situation that the people of Japan faced in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

"The question we need to ask is, do we really want to put our children under threat from a similar catastrophe in the UK when there are viable alternatives to nuclear power at our disposal?"

But EDF - which already has permission to level the 400-acres site in preparation for Hinkley C, irrespective of whether a development consent order is or is not granted later this year - is adamant nuclear power remained the obvious choice for low carbon energy generation.

The company's spokesman said EDF had carried out its own review in the wake of Fukushima to ensure the safety of all its UK operations, including 'stress tests' which had concluded there were no "fundamental safety weaknesses".

The spokesman said: "Following the tragic events in Japan a year ago, Hinkley Point B power station, along with the other stations within the EDF Energy nuclear fleet, went through a full and proper review to ensure that we learnt from the lessons of Fukushima.

"While the independent Office of Nuclear Regulation has declared that it is satisfied with the results of all the stress tests, we have looked for opportunities to make our sites even safer.

"This will include a series of developments, including creating special facilities to ensure we can get essential additional equipment on to the site in the unlikely event of any emergency.

"We are very proud of our safety record at Hinkley Point B power station, which is testament to the thorough safety considerations in the plant design and the nuclear safety focus and professionalism of our staff.

"However, we must ensure we are never complacent and continue to strive towards improving safety at every opportunity."

He said more companies had signed-up to work on the Hinkley C project than individual protesters who turned up for the weekend's rally and claimed the protest had "fallen well short" of the numbers needed to form a human chain around the entire Hinkley site.

He added: "We believe strongly that low-carbon nuclear has a vital role in maintaining UK electricity supplies in the future.

"We also appreciate greatly the support of the large majority of local residents who recognise the contribution we make to the area and the benefits that a new power station would bring to Somerset."