An investigation has been completed after a piece of radioactive graphite - approximately the size of a 10p piece - was found outwith the nuclear licensed area of Hunterston earlier this year.

The small piece of low level radioactive graphite was found in an individual’s toolbox, although within Hunterston A, between January and April.

The matter was reported immediately, and a probe was subsequently launched, and Magnox have pointed out that the incident represented no danger to the public.

The Hunterston site stakeholders group chairman Rita Holmes has asked questions about how the graphite piece got into the toolbox, and why tool kits are allowed outwith contaminated areas.

There are many radiation and contamination controlled areas on the site - in areas where there is significant repeated work the tools would remain in the controlled area.

Magnox also pointed out that there are a lot of areas where only a small amount of work requires to be done, and it would be very costly to leave tools in each of these areas as a vast amount of tools would be required.

Therefore, tools are taken in to these areas, and tools are controlled on the way in and the way out, and have to pass through two sets of monitors.

Hunterston 'A' revealed in their Site Stakeholder report that two individuals did not perform the expected level of checks - the individuals concerned were contractors and left voluntarily so no longer work on site.

At a June meeting of the Site Stakeholders group, Largs councillor Alex Gallagher voiced concerns over whether the culture in the organisation is correct in terms of insufficient reports, and tool control.

Mr Peter Donnelly of the Office of Nuclear Regulation confirmed that they were looking into these shortfalls, and a specialist inspector of performance and organisation

had been assigned to this case.

At the most recent stakeholder group meeting held in September, Magnox reported: "The investigation has now concluded. The actions from the investigation have been completed and a a clearance monitoring improvement plan has been developed and is being implemented to reduce the risk of a repeat."

It was also reported that a minor radiological event happened in the period of May 2016 to July 2016. An individual was found to have a single radioactive particle in the back pocket of their cover overalls which had transferred from a document wallet.

All persons are required to be monitored by a final exit monitoring instrument before they leave the controlled area and it was during the monitoring that the radioactivity was detected.

It was reported at the recent Site Stakeholders group meeting that an investigation had concluded, and various action have taken place to reduce the risk of the incident happening again.