'Very dangerous' nuclear warheads spotted travelling near 'schools and hospitals'

But the Ministry of Defence say in over 50 years of transporting nuclear material by road in the UK, there has never been an incident that has posed any radiation hazard to the public

Comments

News

Jon Macpherson and Sam Elliott-Gibbs Reporter

15:10, 30 Jun 2022Updated 15:10, 30 Jun 2022

Fury as unmarked nuclear warheads spotted 'driving past UK schools and hospitals'

The sighting of a military truck transporting nuclear material has sparked controversy(Image: CND)

Nuclear warheads seen travelling down the M6 and past 'schools and hospitals' have sparked anger from campaigners.

The deadly weapons convoy has been spotted on the move through Lancashire and Cumbria on its way to Scotland.

‌

The procession of olive-green military trucks were seen on the roads, photographs taken by the Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament show.

‌

The trucks are said to have passed Kirkham, Preston, Garstand, Lancaster, Kendal, Penrith and then Carlisle before heading north of the border.

Campaigners believe the 'very dangerous' transportation of nuclear weaponry are 'increasing frequency' with 'little' information given, LancashireLive report.

The MoD say only "highly trained personnel" transport the weapons(Image: Nuclear Watch)

Article continues below

But the Ministry of Defence say in over 50 years of transporting nuclear material by road in the UK, there has never been an incident that has posed any radiation hazard to the public or to the environment.

They add that all convoy operations are conducted by "highly trained personnel under strict operational and procedural conditions."

Philip Gilligan, a spokesperson for the Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament, has called for an end to the transportation of nuclear warheads along roads in the region and elsewhere.

‌

The group say their tracker suggests that the UK's Trident missiles were on the move.

CND have called for an end to transporting warheads along roads while the MoD says it follows 'strict and safe procedures'

The CND have called for an end to transporting warheads along roads(Image: CND)

He said: "At a minimum, we need to know, if, and exactly how, we can begin to protect ourselves and our children from the alpha emitting plutonium and uranium particles which could be dispersed if an explosion resulted from an accident involving one of these MoD carriers?

‌

"Better still, these the convoys should be taken off our roads altogether. We do not need nuclear missiles, and we would all be much safer without them on our roads."

A spokesperson for the MoD said: "Defence nuclear materials are transported only when necessary, and the safety and security of the public are the highest priority.

"All convoy operations follow strict and safe procedures, and the MOD is equipped to respond to any incident, no matter how unlikely."

Article continues below