ANOTHER major stage in the decommissioning of the nuclear site at Winfrith has been completed.

The latest project in the closing down of the UKAEA site was the removal of Nestor and Dimple, two low power reactors which were among the world's longest-running and most successful research facilities.

It has taken almost eight years to complete this project, with a separate reinforced concrete building put up in the process to store radioactive fissile material.

Nestor started its working life, known as "going critical" in the industry, in 1961. It provided a source of neutrons to test radiation shields.

Dimple, built in 1954, tested safety and efficiency across the whole fuel cycle. The building that housed them has now been completely torn down.

Under close inspection, the remaining 65 tonnes of natural and depleted uranium from the reactors was sealed and transferred off-site.

Paul Milverton, the UKAEA project manager said: "The project to remove these facilities represented a number of technical and contractual challenges.

"But the demolition work was carried out safely and for a lot lower than the expected cost.

"It's an excellent result and shows a great working partnership between UKAEA and its contractors."

There were once nine reactors at the Winfrith site. The last functioning site was turned off in 1990, beginning the long process of clearing the site.

This was sped up in 2003 when the government became keen to show how neatly and efficiently nuclear sites could be cleared.

It is now hoped Winfrith will be completely decommissioned by 2015, making it the first major nuclear site to be taken off the regulator's books.

Only two reactors remain now at Winfrith and the first stage in their demolition is due to be completed in the next few weeks.