WW2 radiation suspends Orkney-Caithness power project work

SSEN said the affected areas were immediately isolated and exclusion zones put in place.

A spokesperson said: “As a further precaution, all works on site have been temporarily suspended whilst further tests and assessments take place.

“Sepa has been notified and we will continue to work with them, our contractors and all other relevant stakeholders going forward.”

The link to aircraft dials was first reported by the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, external.

Caithness had a number of military air bases during WW2.

There was an airfield created at Dounreay but in the end was not used for flights by the RAF, according to Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust, external. It was later taken over by the Royal Navy.

The Dounreay experiment nuclear power complex was built nearby in the 1950s.

Once completed, the 33-mile (53km) subsea cable will connect renewable energy schemes in Orkney to the national grid to supply power to 250,000 homes.

The link from Warebeth, near Stromness, to the Dounreay substation is due to be operational in 2028.