CONSTRUCTION students from South Cheshire College have been standing firm in a debate about nuclear power as part of their course.

A group of BTEC HNC, Building Studies students were split down the middle in the mock argument which exploded into life last week.

Half of the group represented a nuclear power construction company, while the other students acted on behalf of major environment groups such as Greenpeace.

The groups have been working on their arguments for the past few months ahead of the debate which centred on whether new nuclear power stations should be built in the UK.

Last year the government lost a high court battle with the environmental group Greenpeace, as it planned to create new nuclear power stations.

The government believes that nuclear power will provide the country with a secure and reliable energy source for the future and reduce emissions.

However, environmentalists argue that new nuclear power stations could lead to problems with the disposal of radioactive waste and the financial costs could be very high.

Up to 15 students took part in the trial project, in preparation for a real-life debate involving professional clients later this year.

Construction Lecturer Karl Jackson said: "The students have all been preparing their arguments for and against new nuclear power stations for some time now.

"The debate was a trial run for a live project which will count towards their qualification later in the year.

"The groups represented professional organisations and put forward some excellent cases for and against nuclear power.

"Projects like this get them thinking about the issues that need to be taken into consideration during major construction projects."