A GEOLOGICAL fault in the land next to Heysham 1 and 2 has ruled out the possibility of ever building a new nuclear power station at that site.

This week British Energy admitted it would be "impossible" to construct a Heysham 3 or 4.

Local environmentalists have recently been campaigning to stop an expansion of the area's nuclear power capability fearing that Heysham could be chosen under the Government's energy review.

But a British Energy survey has revealed that the vacant land has a geological fault which makes it unsuitable for development.

A spokesman said: "We have a certain amount of land but it is not suitable and a Heysham 3 or 4 has never been on the cards.

There are better places around the country to build new power stations."