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A 600m cordon, which was set up last night around the building which caught fire last night (Aug 3) at AWE Aldermaston, has now been reduced to 300m. This now brings the cordon back within AWE site perimeters.

Subsequently, local roads are reopening and all 14 residents living in the Red Lane area, who were evacuated overnight to local hotels, have now returned to their homes.

There were no radiological consequences as a result of the fire which broke out in a building within the conventional non-nuclear explosives area of the Aldermaston site at around 9pm last night.

AWE’s fire and rescue service were immediately on the scene supported by Royal Berkshire fire fighters. One member of AWE staff received minor injuries in the incident and was treated by first aiders on the site.

A full investigation into the causes of the incident will be carried out. The Ministry of Defence and AWE’s regulators have been informed as is normal procedure.

Contacts: AWE Press Office: 0118 985 5888.

Alan Price (0118 985 6402), Val Hincks (0118 985 6410), Rachel Whybrow (0118 985 6414) or Philippa Kent (0118 985 6412).