OLDBURY Power Station has shut down reactor one for essential work.

Bosses at the station confirmed that reactor one had been manually shut down yesterday Thursday, July 14 after problems with the fuelling machine.

A spokesman said: "Reactor one has been taken offline so that the work can be completed in the most effective, safe and timely manner. The plant remains in a safe state."

The spokesman said it was likely the reactor would be offline for approximately three weeks.

According to the station residents living nearby may have seen steam released from the reactor one boilers as part of the shut down.

Last month reactor two was permanently shut down after 40 years of generating electricity.