CALLS to rethink unpopular plans for a route of electricity pylons across Sedgemoor appear to have paid off.

National Grid has this week hinted it will consider all options - including underground and subsea cables as well as overhead lines - to power the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Campaigners have spent months battling for National Grid to scrap its proposals for a corridor of giant pylons through the Somerset Levels, stretching between Bridgwater and Avonmouth.

Gareth Woodcock, co-chairman of Pylon-Moor-Pressure, said: “This is really, really good news; we realise the transmission has to go ahead but we think underground and subsea options are more viable.”

He also said members have recently been lobbying MPs to change the Government's policy statement on powering nuclear power stations.

Mr Woodcock added: “We realise National Grid is hamstrung by the current guidelines so we have gone to higher powers to try and get them changed.”

National Grid originally proposed two potential route corridors and had hoped to announce its preferred option in the autumn.

But the decision was delayed after bosses received huge feedback from their public consultation and they are now continuing to examine the responses.

The company hopes to reach a final decision early next year.