A LIST of potential sites for new nuclear power stations - including one in the North-East, was unveiled by the Government today.

Nine of the locations have previously been home to nuclear reactors - including Dungeness in Kent and Sizewell in Suffolk - while two others are close to the former Sellafield reactor site in Cumbria.

The sites have been nominated by companies interested in building the stations and have been initially approved by the Government.

The list of potential locations is: Dungeness in Kent; Sizewell in Suffolk; Hartlepool in Cleveland; Heysham in Lancashire; Sellafield in Cumbria; Braystones in Cumbria; Kirksanton in Cumbria; Wylfa Peninsula in Anglesey; Oldbury in Gloucestershire; Hinkley Point in Somerset and Bradwell in Essex.

The proposals form part of the Governments plan to build a new generation of nuclear power stations to help close what has been described as a generation gap expected as existing nuclear and coal-fired stations shutdown.

Members of the public are now being asked for their views during a month-long consultation period.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "This is another important step towards a new generation of nuclear power stations.

"I want to listen to what people have to say about these nominations and I encourage people to log on to our website, read the information and let us have their comments.

"Nuclear power is part of the low carbon future for Britain.

"It also has the potential to offer thousands of jobs to the UK and multi-million pound opportunities to British businesses."

The sites have been nominated by the energy giants EDF, E.ON and RWE, and by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which owns some nuclear sites.

None are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, where planning is a devolved issue.