Protesters say plant must close

The issue dominated the two-day conference on protection of the North Sea environment.

Ocean currents carry small traces of radioactivity from the plant's waste pipe on the Irish Sea coast across to Scandinavia, and it has been detected in shellfish and seaweed in Norway.

The UK Government is due to decide soon whether the discharges can continue.

But the Norwegian environment minister has revealed he is now seeking legal advice on whether he can force Britain to stop the releases now under international law.

I am aware that there are genuine and very real concerns in this country

Michael Meacher Environment Minister

And Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik openly encouraged his Norwegians to join peaceful protests planned in Bergen against emissions into the ocean from the plant.

Mr Meacher was lobbied at the conference by peaceful demonstrators calling for the complete closure of Sellafield.

He was also confronted by a protest about overfishing in the North Sea.

Cautious optimism

The ministers from nine countries bordering the North Sea are warning large areas will need to be closed off to fishing within two years if the alarming decline in stocks is to be reversed.

Mr Meacher promised to listen to complaints about Sellafield, saying: "I am aware that there are genuine and very real concerns in this country."

After a brief meeting with Mr Meacher, Norwegian Environment Minister Boerge Brende said he doubted that the North Sea meeting would lead to a Sellafield solution.

"I am a cautious optimist," said Mr Brende, adding that he thought the British Government would find a solution within months.