THE SAS is not involved in secret training exercises at the Sizewell nuclear power site, police have insisted.

Anthony Bond

THE SAS is not involved in secret training exercises at the Sizewell nuclear power site, police have insisted.

The denial follows reports that the elite troops have been training in Suffolk in the event they have to retake nuclear power plants from terrorists.

A national newspaper yesterday claimed the exercises involving the regiment and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary had been taking place at Sizewell.

It claimed this involved heavily armed SAS troops training alongside police to recapture the plant in the event that it is taken by a terrorist group such as al-Qaeda.

Rumours had been rife recently after residents in east Suffolk reported low-flying Chinook helicopters in the area.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment yesterdaysaying only that it “does not comment on special forces matters as a matter of policy”.

But the Civil Nuclear Constabulary denied that any training exercises had been taking place.

Superintendent Walter Walker said: “I can say that as far as I am aware we have not carried out any training exercises.

“I am aware that from time to time there are regular helicopter landings at an offside car park at Sizewell to ensure that it can be used as a helicopter landing place, but other than that nothing has taken place. If we have exercises we tell people that we are holding them.”

Charles Barnett, chairman of the Shutdown Sizewell Campaign, said if troops were practising at the site as well it was a “terrible development”.

He added: “The only solution is to close down the nuclear power plants in the country immediately and get rid of high level nuclear waste which is stored at Sizewell B which is a tempting target for terrorists.”