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Dungeness 'A' nuclear power station is finally due to be shut down on New Year's Eve but it will be another 11 years before the its nuclear neighbour turns off its advanced gas-cooled power reactors.

It can take at least 70 years for remnants of radioactive material to degrade to a safe level, although suggested new working methods mean the 91 hectare site could be fully cleared by the early 2030s. 

Work began constructing the plant in 1960, with electricity production from its two reactors on stream five years later. 

The New Year's Eve closure involves the press of a button, with each reactor being shut down several hours apart. 

The plant was originally intended to generate power for 25 years, but that was ultimately extended by more than half. 

British Energy-owned Dungeness 'B', which opened in 1983, also recently had its lifetime extended from 2008 to 2018. 

In July this year, the government announced it was in favour of the UK having a new generation of nuclear power stations, in order to secure future energy supplies and cut carbon emissions.