The Sizewell B nuclear power station is used to welcoming visitors of the human kind, but now two seals have decided to set up home inside the plant, which supplies 2.3 million homes.
And the aquatic ‘tenants’ have so far resisted attempts to evict them back to the sea after swimming into the forebay area at the coastal facility.
The intrepid duo swam through a gateway at the end of an intake tunnel, which brings sea water into the power station.
Sizewell B is the UK’s only pressurised water reactor and sea water taken from the North Sea is heated up to create steam at the right pressure to turn the station’s two turbines.
A spokesperson for Sizewell B said representatives of the Marine and Wildlife Rescue charity had made ‘several attempts’ to return the seals to the sea, but they were happy where they were.
She added: “Two healthy happy seals are currently residing in the Sizewell B forebay area. They swam through a gateway at the end of the intake tunnel which brings sea water into the power station.
“Despite several attempts by the Marine and Wildlife Rescue charity to return the seals to the sea they remain happy where they are.
“We will continue to work with the charity to return the seals to the sea and will inspect and complete any work required on the gate to the intake tunnel during the next maintenance outage in February.”
Dan Goldsmith, from Marine and Wildlife Rescue, confirmed that the charity was helping to return the animals to the sea, but they were safe where they were currently residing.
He said the grey seals had arrived independently 'some months ago' and had entered as they are 'incredibly inquisitive animals'.
He said: “We can confirm that we have been working with EDF to safely remove both seals from Sizewell B forebay.
“We continue to work with EDF in relation to this. Both are in good health and are being monitored.”
