In Britain the Sellafield Nuclear Power Station has been closed due to 'adverse weather conditions'.

In a statement its website Sellafield Limited says "The site emergency control centre has been established and is managing the incident in line with well rehearsed procedures". It says there is no reason to believe there will be any nuclear, environmental or conventional safety issues resulting from the closure.

It adds that all staff have been sent home from the facility "as a precaution" and is related to staff welfare saying they "are keen to ensure that our people can get home".

It concludes that safety manning levels in all of the plants on the site "have been maintained and will be maintained" and that those leaving the site are not safety-related staff.

The UK is meanwhile bracing itself for another spell of harsh winter weather over the next few days.

The Midlands and the north of England as well as parts of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all facing heavy snowfall.