Vulcan MoD nuclear site in Caithness could be scrapped

A submarine nuclear reactor test site in Scotland could be scaled down, or closed and demolished after 2015, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

In a statement, the MoD said computer modelling and confidence in new reactors meant testing at Vulcan in Caithness was no longer necessary.

The site sits on the Dounreay nuclear complex.

Options being considered include putting Vulcan into "care and maintenance".

This would mean work could resume at the site in the future if necessary.

The other option would be to have Vulcan demolished along with the rest of Dounreay.

The MoD said the current series of tests at Vulcan end in 2015.

In 2005, the MoD estimated that it would cost £2.1bn to decommission Vulcan and decontaminate and deal with waste at the site.