CAMPAIGNERS yesterday called for a rethink on atomic energy after the operators of the Dounreay nuclear plant near Caithness admitted that a fire last month caused an “unauthorised release” of radioactivity.

Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) which is decomissioning the plant said that trace amounts of tritium were released but claimed this did not pose a risk to the public.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said the release of radioactive material was “deeply worrying” and called for a review of safety procedures.

“This incident again highlights the hazardous and expensive problem of dealing with the radioactive legacy of the nuclear industry,” Mr Banks said.

“Anyone who thinks that nuclear power has a role to play in our energy future needs to seriously think again.”

The fire broke out on October 7 in the prototype fast reactor sodium tank building, where sodium residues from the operation of the reactor are stored.

The on-site fire brigade extinguished the blaze and no-one was hurt.