Completion of Hinkley Point C in Somerset has been delayed by up to four years.

The UK's first nuclear power station to be built since 1995 is now likely to start generating power in 2031, rather than the original scheduled date of 2027, according to EDF, the company behind it.

The cost of the project has also escalated - predicted to come in between £25 and £26bn at the start of the project in 2015, it is now forecast at 'between £31 billion and £34 billion in 2015 values' - around £46bn in today's prices. Any further delay would add around £1bn per year (in 2015 values).

Gloucestershire businesses in a range of industries supply goods and services to Hinkley Point C, and it looks like they could be supplying them for many more years to come.

In a briefing to staff at the site, EDF said: "It is important to say that British consumers or taxpayers won't pay a penny, with the increased costs met entirely by shareholders. Our commitment to bring in the extra people we need at Hinkley Point C will benefit the local community with more jobs, skills and economic activity."

Late last year, the project hit a major milestone, when the dome was lifted to close the roof of the first reactor. It is expected that the second reactor will be built 20-30% quicker, using the skills gained from building the first reactor.

Image credit: EDF