ANTI-nuclear campaigners from Stop Hinkley have joined forces with other protest groups to call on the European Commission to reject the Government's "strike price" deal with Hinkley Point C developer EDF Energy.

Stop Hinkley, the Cities for a Nuclear Free Europe Network and the UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities claim the deal - which guarantees a price for electricity generated from the proposed station - amounts to illegal state aid.

The European Commission will have the final say on whether the deal can go ahead and has been scrutinising the agreement since last year.

It is now undertaking a month-long consultation before making a final decision later this year.

In their joint submission, the three pressure groups claim there is no case for subsidising an established technology such as nuclear power and argue the money would be better spent on renewable energy sources.

They said Hinkley C would not come to fruition without the strike price and feared solar and wind energy schemes could suffer from a lack of investment if Hinkley C came online.

The statement concluded: "The question the competition commissioner must surely answer is whether the subsidies to Hinkley Point C are required in order for the UK to meet its energy security and climate change objectives.

"The answer is clearly no. In which case, is spending money on the subsidy the most cost efficient way of reducing carbon emissions?

"Again the answer is no - it would be better to spend the money elsewhere.

"Finally, does awarding subsidies to one form of low carbon technology constitute unfair treatment of other forms of low carbon technology which might be available from elsewhere in Europe? The answer is clearly yes."

The three said the only option available for the commission was to declare the "state aid" strike price illegal.

Nikki Clark, Stop Hinkley spokesman, said: "There is no-case for subsidising an industry, which in over 70 years of existence, has never been able to survive in a free market and has constantly produced an insoluble problem - nuclear waste, with an essentially unknowable cost to all of society in economic and health terms into the far future.

"The Stop Hinkley campaign believes that this is unacceptable.

"It shows a lack of commitment from the UK Government to transforming our energy system.

"The UK and particularly Somerset can't afford to sink under the costs of public subsidies for the Government's nuclear obsession.

"We call on the EU to declare the proposed state aid for Hinkley C illegal."