ONE of two nuclear reactions at the Torness power station has stopped generating electricity.

EDF Energy, which runs the plant in East Lothian, said the decision to take the reactor offline on Sunday was unplanned. The company did not release information about why it had halted production, but insisted there was no cause for concern.

Maintenance work scheduled for this weekend is now going to begin earlier than planned, the company said.

Responding to the company's statement, WWF Scotland director, Dr Richard Dixon, said: "Nuclear power has once again proven itself to be unreliable. We should all be thankful that Scotland has grown its renewable energy capacity enough to be able to deal with Torness nuclear power station going offline."