Councils and tourism chiefs in Somerset are ‘delighted’ after the Government approved plans to build a new £18billion power plant at Hinkley Point near Bridgwater this morning (Thursday), with Weston-super-Mare set to receive a ‘significant slice’ of the deal.

The controversial facility, which will be financed by French and Chinese investment, could inject 25,000 new jobs, 1,000 apprenticeships and £100million per year into the regional economy – according to the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Visit Somerset chief executive, John Turner, said: “Visit Somerset is delighted that the UK Government has made the decision to support the new Hinkley C build,” while Somerset County Council ‘heralded’ the Government’s decision which ‘will bring unprecedented investment and job creation’ to the region.

Mr Turner told the Mercury: “£4billion could come into the regional economy in the coming 10 years, and Weston and North Somerset will receive a significant slice of that.”

For more, pick up a copy of the Mercury next week.