The Army was pulled in to Sellafield over the weekend to boost security after the national terror threat level was raised.

Friday's suspected terror attack at Parsons Green tube station, London, saw Prime Minister Theresa May lift the level to critical.

This enacted Operation Temperer, which meant officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) were deployed elsewhere to provide additional protection to civilian sites.

A Sellafield spokesman said: "In order to maintain security levels during this period, military personnel were deployed to Sellafield to work alongside armed CNC officers.

"This is a standard procedure and a scenario which has been planned for, exercised and implemented in the past.

"On Sunday, the national threat level was reduced to 'severe'. As a result, CNC officers are now returning to normal duties. This will allow the military support to leave Sellafield."

Soldiers were also drafted in to the nuclear plant in May after the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena.

A memo, sent to staff at the time, said: "This is a scenario which Sellafield Ltd, CNC and the MoD has planned for and exercised in the past.

"It is not due to an escalation of the perceived threat to the site, it is a resourcing solution as protection levels are escalated in civilian areas across the country."

Extra police - some armed - were also on the streets of Cumbria over the weekend due to the heightened terror threat.