The 5000^th canister of waste has been processed at the UK’s first nuclear power station at Harwell in Oxfordshire.

Harwell was built in 1946 as the country’s first atomic energy centre and housed five research reactors.

Only three of these reactors remain, with their fuel removed and decommissioning well underway by Research Site Restoration, part of UK engineering company Babcock.

Following the removal this week of the 5000^th canister, Babcock said a further 6000 canisters will be processed before decommissioning is due to end around 2025.