Pre-tax profits at the nuclear electricity generator in April, May and June were £101million — down from £296million in the same months last year.

It followed stoppages at its Hartlepool, Heysham 1 and Dungeness B power stations.

But chief executive Bill Coley insisted “good progress” had been made towards resolving the issues.

He said talks over a possible takeover were continuing despite the recent rejection by some BE shareholders of a £12billion bid by French power giant EDF. Shares rose 1.5p to 706.5.

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