Anti-nuclear campaigners have received support from the Austrian government over a planned nuclear power station in Copeland.

Radiation Free Lakeland has received a letter of thanks from Austria’s federal ministry of agriculture, forestry, environment and water management over objections to Moorside.

It is in response to a report, commissioned by the Cumbrian group and paid for by £4,000 of crowd funding, which describes the new nuclear power station as "dangerous and not fit for purpose''.

The letter states: “In the name of the Federal Chancellor we want to thank you for your commitment regarding the nuclear power plant in Moorside.

"Europe needs citizens who advocate the exit from nuclear energy to ensure the sustainability of energy supply and critically engage themselves in social, economic and political issues.

"As you might know, Austria has already expressed its opposition to the use of nuclear energy within a referendum in 1978 and is also going to adhere to a policy in favour of a global shift away from this form of energy generation in the future. For the Austrian Federal Government it is clear that alternative forms of energy are worth of promotion.”

Marianne Birkby, Radiation Free Lakeland’s founder, said: "This acknowledgment and moral support from Austria sends us much needed encouragement to continue and to build on the resistance to Moorside. "As the federal chancellor says, Europe needs citizens who advocate the exit from nuclear energy.''

And she added: "Campaigning on the pylon route alone will not cut it. It is up to groups and individuals in Cumbria to join and to put their shoulders to the wheel in building resistance so that we can stop the biggest nuclear development in Europe and ensure a safe and sustainable future.''

NuGen, who is developing Moorside, hopes construction will begin in 2020, pending a positive funding decision in 2018. The first reactor would go on stream in 2025 and all three, with a combined 3.4GW capacity, operational by 2026.