APPROVAL has been granted for an £18bn nuclear plant across the water from the Vale of Glamorgan.

The UK government has given the green light to the plans for the Hinkley Point C project on the Somerset coast which can be seen across the Bristol Channel.

The plant is being financed by French and Chinese companies.

The government has reached a revised agreement with EDF over the plan and "significant new safeguards" have been imposed for future foreign investment in critical infrastructure.

Keith Stockdale from the Vale branch of Friends of the Earth said he was "stunned" by the news.

He said: "It is clearly visible and is a reminder of the danger of nuclear power.

"We have campaigned against it for 20 years and it is a disaster waiting to happen.

"It is out of our control and we won't see any of the benefits such as jobs.

"We should be investing in green energy such as tidal which is being developed in west Wales.

"It's a victory for big business and the legacy of this will hit the next generation."

We took to the streets to get the reaction of Vale residents.

Sonia Williams, 34, said: "I was not expecting this decision.

"In fact, everyone had the impression that it was going to be stopped.

"The cost is what I am most against.”

Steve Lennon, 41, wrote a letter to the UK government objecting.

He said: "I will write another now.

"We have been told of the problems the plant would cause yet they are pressing ahead with it."

Ross Williams said: "The project is going to cost billions of pounds and who knows the exact sum for environmental damage.

"Many species of animal and plant will be destroyed during the plant’s construction."

Mr Williams said he is planning on going on a protest against Hinkley.