"Worrying news for Wales": Simon Thomas MP

"The last nuclear power station, which was built at Sizewell in Suffolk 10 years ago cost 2.3bn," he added.

"Had that money been invested in renewable energy, we would be well on our way to meeting our Kyoto obligations."

Mr Thomas said it was particularly worrying that the news had come at a time when leukaemia clusters had been confirmed near a nuclear power station in the French port of Cherbourg.

It also came soon after the discovery by Aberystwyth scientist Dr Chris Busby of childhood leukaemia along the Severn Estuary near the Oldbury Nuclear Power station.

The long-term environmental cost of disposing of nuclear waste and of keeping decommissioned nuclear plants safe far outweighs any short term benefits

Simon Thomas MP

Mr Thomas also voiced concern that the government was talking of limiting public inquiries on large-scale developments.

This, he argued, would lead to suppressing local views on developments such as nuclear power stations.

"This situation demonstrates clearly that we must take difficult decisions on renewable energy developments such as Cefn Croes or face having nuclear power forced upon us," he said.

"The long-term environmental cost of disposing of nuclear waste and of keeping decommissioned nuclear plants safe far outweighs any short-term benefits.

Cancer risks

"Our energy needs are increasing daily so If we do not support all forms of renewable energy then nuclear power will become a credible option for the government."

Back in April, politicians called for action following the publication of a study which claimed children living in an area of south Wales near a nuclear power station stood a higher risk of developing cancer.

Newport East MP Alan Howarth and MEP Michael Holmes wanted the release of cancer incidence figures in light of suggestions that clusters around Chepstow were linked to the proximity the Oldbury nuclear power station.

The report's author - radiation expert and Green Party spokesman Dr Chris Busby - claimed to have found that children there were 11 times more likely to develop myeloid leukaemia than others in the UK.

Leukaemia found

The town is five miles from Oldbury nuclear power station on the banks of the river Severn, which campaigners claim has been found to contain high levels of radioactive particles.

Myeloid leukaemia is a very rare form of cancer which is strongly associated with radiation.

The study - which used data from the Wales Cancer Registry - shows that three cases of the cancer were discovered in children up to the age of four between 1974 and 1990 in Chepstow, compared to the national average of 0.27.

It also reveals that children in Chepstow ran a higher risk of developing all cancers - at 3.54 times the national average.