Some evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe will have to wait years longer before they can return home after Japan admitted its radiation clean-up in the most contaminated towns is behind schedule.

Six workers received a “significant” radioactive dose while trying to repair equipment at a foundry in France, safety officials revealed today.

More than a million postcards will be delivered to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Prince of Wales tomorrow as part of an Irish bid to have the Sellafield nuclear installation closed down.