INTRUDERS could breach security at Sizewell nuclear power station at any time.The warning came from the head of Britain's nuclear security on the day two protesters admitted breaching Sizewell last October.

INTRUDERS could breach security at Sizewell nuclear power station at any time.

The warning came from the head of Britain's nuclear security on the day two protesters admitted breaching Sizewell last October.

Michael Buckland-Smith, director of civil nuclear security, told ministers that he cannot protect power plants from "determined" intruders.

He said: "No practicable, cost-effective combination of perimeter fencing and other obstacles can prevent large numbers of demonstrators breaching outer barriers."

Two men appeared at Lowestoft Magistrates Court yesterday in one of many occasions where security has been breached.

Kevin Drake and Francis Hewetson were part of a 103-man Greenpeace team who got into the compound at the Sizewell facility and climbed onto the pump house.

The men, both 38, painted the words "72pc say no" on the building with masonry paint during the incident on October 14 and 15, 2002 to draw Government attention to the results of an opinion poll on nuclear power.

The pair were yesterday fined £550 each after they admitted criminal damage and were told to pay £750 in compensation to British Energy and £55 costs.

And afterwards Mr Drake, a tree surgeon from Wiltshire, said it had been a lot easier to get in than he expected.

"We were even more concerned about security later when we considered the terrorist threat," he said.

This latest case comes after a series of security scares at the Sizewell B power station.

In January this year Greenpeace activists were able to infiltrate the sight and paint the word 'DANGER' on to the dome that houses the nuclear reactor.

Last July, an Evening Star investigation revealed glaring security lapses at Sizewell.

We showed that the Sizewell A and B nuclear plants were wide open to attack from the air and proved the point by flying right over Sizewell B without being challenged. And we were carrying a heavily laden bag which could have been loaded with enough high explosive to cause huge destruction.

Craig Taylor, public relations officer for British Energy, the company responsible for Sizewell B declined to comment on Mr Buckland-Smith's statement but said: "We take our security very seriously and are constantly taking measures to ensure our security is of the highest level."