Radiation pills stockpiled across Britain

Anti-radiation pills are being stockpiled at secret government sites throughout Britain because of fears that terrorists could target a nuclear power station.

The tablets, which until now have been stored only near nuclear plants such as Sellafield, have been ordered for widespread distribution by the Department of Health.

The emergency move follows the 11 September attacks and fears that a terrorist organisation such as al-Qa'ida might target a nuclear plant in Britain, leading to a leak of radiation over hundreds of miles.

Two months ago, the US claimed to have uncovered a plot to detonate a "dirty bomb", in which conventional explosives are used to scatter radioactive particles.

Security around British nuclear power stations was tightened after 11 September and exercises have already been held to prepare the emergency services for a terrorist incident. The move shows the Government is taking seriously the threat of an al-Qa'ida attack on a nuclear installation.

Anti-radiation tablets contain potassium iodate to protect the thyroid gland, which is vulnerable to nuclear radiation. The pills, which must be taken within four hours of an attack, have been made ready for swift distribution to the public. They have been distributed to secret NHS sites around Britain.

The Government confirmed that extra precautions had been taken, but said that it could not comment on the exact location of the stockpiles for security reasons.

The Department of Health warned that potassium iodate would not protect the public against the effects of a nuclear device or "dirty bomb" because of the effects of radioactive materials in addition to iodine, such as potassium, uranium and cobalt.

"These additional stockpiles are distributed around the country so that the public could be protected against radioactive iodine poisoning in the event of a wider incident," a spokesman said. "The tablets would protect against a release of radioactive iodine, but there are many other forms of radioactive material against which there is simply no protection of this kind. We cannot discuss the number or location of the tablets."

An attack using a aircraft could be devastating, unleashing cancer-causing radiation that can be carried by the wind across hundreds of miles.

But security measures in nuclear power stations mean a full-scale nuclear explosion is unlikely, despite the possible release of radioactive iodine.