For more than half a century, residents living under the shadow of a Scottish nuclear power station have not thought about a Chernobyl-style meltdown.

Now, for the first time in 60 years, people living near Torness in East Lothian are to be advised on what to do in the event of a major incident at the plant that would disperse radiation across the surrounding area.

More than 200 households in a two-mile radius of the East Lothian site will receive a manual on how to react.

Instead of the traditional instructions to paint windows white and dive under the nearest table, residents are being told simply to stay indoors and take anti-radiation tablets. Potassium iodide would be handed out to those in a 10-mile radius of Torness.

Warnings would be issued to homes via automated phone messages, police loudspeakers and local broadcasts.

Local councillor Chas Booth, a member of the Torness Local Liaison Committee, said: "The public are being asked to 'trust us', yet are not being told if there are sufficient tablets ... or where those tablets are kept."