THE company which owns Heysham's two nuclear power stations could still go into administration - and faces claims that one of its reactors could be unsafe.

British Energy was saved by a £410 million Government loan this week, while environmental groups demanded the closure of Heysham 2, claiming its design could lead to a serious accident.

One nuclear safety expert says he is 'astonished' that the Government has not yet stepped in to close the plant.

However, station bosses say the station has been fully checked and, whatever the company's financial situation, safety will remain the priority.

Heysham 2 was built according to a similar design and by the same company as Torness, the Scottish plant currently closed on safety grounds.

Both Greenpeace and the Green Party have demanded that the plant is shut down by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate immediately.

British Energy shares - which peaked at £7, were trading at just 28p earlier this week.

Government advisers say that they have not ruled out calling in administrators to run the firm, which has suffered because of a decline in the price of electricity.