A SITE in Dumfriesshire has been confirmed as a possible storage location for radioactive waste from decommissioned nuclear submarines, sparking an angry reaction from the SNP.

The Atomic Weapons Establishment site at Chapelcross is among five in the UK that are candidates to house waste from 27 nuclear-powered submarines after they have left naval service and been defuelled. Consultations with the local communities earmarked for the waste will be launched next month.

Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has previously written to the UK Government arguing that the waste should not be stored in Scotland. He said: "Scotland must not be turned into a dumping ground for Ministry of Defence nuclear waste.

"The Scottish Government will be continuing to make the case that waste arising from the MoD submarine dismantling projects in Rosyth and Devonport should be stored elsewhere."

Defence Minister Philip Dunne MP said the MoD would be handling the process openly and transparently, and would work closely with the local communities affected.