Jobs should not be put under threat by closing Sellafield without proof the nuclear facility is dangerous, Tony Blair has said.

Mr Blair said it would be wrong to shut down the British Nuclear Fuels plant in Cumbria, without official evidence to back up claims it posed a threat.

He was responding to SDLP Leader John Hume in the House of Commons, after the Irish MP asked Mr Blair if he was aware of the widespread concerns about the plant.

There are fears in the UK and Ireland Sellafield might be leaking nuclear pollution into the Irish Sea.

'Strict standards'

The wife of U2 pop singer Bono is spearheading a protest campaign against the plant.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Blair said: "I am aware of the concern that is expressed.

"However, the Sellafield plant, and indeed any other plant in this country, is subject to the strictest, not just national but international, standards."

He said the plant is regularly inspected and none of the types of problems alleged by campaigners have been found.

Mr Blair said: "Of course we take these concerns seriously, but there is a proper procedure.

Protest postcards

"I think it would be wrong to either close down nuclear facilities or to start putting large numbers of people out of work if there wasn't sufficient evidence from the relevant bodies to back it up."

On 26 April, the wife of U2 singer Bono, Ali Hewson, visited Downing Street to protest against the operation of Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria.

The anti-nuclear campaigner was highlighting a mail-out of 1.3m protest postcards calling for the plant to be closed.

Mr Blair and the Prince of Wales were among recipients of the cards, which highlight fears in the Irish Republic about alleged pollution risks from Sellafield.