New Hinkley Point nuclear power station may be further delayed

France's EDF gives no definite schedule for construction of 24.5bn plant, which still awaits firm's final investment decision

The planned new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset has been hit by another setback, with its developer EDF admitting the project may be further delayed.

The news came as the French energy group said a more advanced sister project at Flamanville in Normandy would now not start operating until 2018, at a cost of a10bn (7.3bn). It was originally slated to open in 2005 and cost a3bn.