FIREFIGHTERS were called to put out a blaze at Sizewell B power station – on the same day it carried out a test run for a nuclear emergency.The blaze in the Hydro-Chlorination plant at 4pm yesterday began after a suspected short circuit in electrical apparatus.

FIREFIGHTERS were called to put out a blaze at Sizewell B power station – on the same day it carried out a test run for a nuclear emergency.

The blaze in the Hydro-Chlorination plant at 4pm yesterday began after a suspected short circuit in electrical apparatus.

Suffolk Fire Service said the small fire posed no risk outside the station and the fire was put out by the plant's own in-house fire safety team.

British Energy said it was investigating the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, officials from a number of agencies were involved in Exercise Wulfstun, running through procedures if for a potential nuclear emergency at the station.

The emergency – classified Level Two – involved a release of radioactivity after a rupture in a steam reactor's valve.

The operation was carried out at Suffolk Constabulary's Martlesham Heath headquarters and involved a Government regulator and agencies including the police, the Food Standards Agency, Environment Agency and Health Authority.

A spokeswoman for British Energy said the exercise was to test the communications system in the event of an emergency and included simulated media, press conferences and communication with the company's headquarters in Gloucester.