ENGINEERS are ready to start tunnelling the second of three fish protection measures for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

The fish return system will be more than 2,000 feet (620 metres) long and six feet (1.8 metres) in diameter.

The tunnel boring machine being used by the engineers has been named ‘Sarah Guppy’ by local schoolchildren, after a pioneering 19th century woman engineer.

With two other systems in place, Hinkley Point C will have more fish protection than any other power station in the world.

The latest milestone comes as the Government responds to last week’s Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Report which looks at ways to make regulation smarter, effective, and proportionate to enable the delivery of more new nuclear power stations.

The Government wants to see a ‘golden age of nuclear’ which will boost the UK’s energy sovereignty, with new stations built faster and cheaper to protect households from volatile global fossil fuel markets.

Sir Alex Chisholm, chairman of Hinkley C owners EDF, said: “The current volatility in global fossil fuel markets underlines the benefit of homegrown nuclear electricity to Britain.

“Its reputation for safe operation and construction must be underpinned by effective regulation.

“We welcome the opportunity to help make sure regulation is timely, predictable, and proportionate.

“On the environment, there is no need to choose between protecting nature and the delivery of essential national infrastructure, both can be achieved.

“The current approach can end up delivering small benefits to local wildlife at a large cost to the country.

“The taskforce is right to ask if there is a better way.”

Hinkley Point C’s other fish protection systems are specially designed intake heads to slow the speed of water entering the cooling tunnels, and a new type of acoustic fish deterrent to keep fish away.