7:04am UK, Monday August 12, 2002

Two ships laden with nuclear fuel are heading for Britain amidst unprecedented security measures.

The vessels are returning a consignment of plutonium bought by Japan from the Government-run BNFL two years ago.

sp Pacific Pintail nuclear ship Japan Britain

The Pacific Pintail

Japan ordered the material to be returned after it was found that safety records at BNFL had been falsified.

Protesters are planning a flotilla of more than 100 boats to intercept the ships when they move up the Irish Sea towards Cumbria, although they will not try to blockade the ships' path.

Threat of terrorism

"This plutonium is dangerous enough as it is - we don't want to do anything to make it more of a risk," said Andrew Clemence of Pembrokeshire Anti-Nuclear Alliance, which is organising the protests.

With enough plutonium in the consignment to make 50 nuclear bombs, there is also a very real the threat of terrorism.

BNFL insists the specially strengthened vessels are among the safest in the world.

The Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal are the first commercial ships since the Second World War to be armed.

But security experts warn that the security is inadequate and the ships are vulnerable to attack.