THE North-East's only nuclear power station could have its life extended by another ten years to help bridge an energy gap, The Northern Echo has learned.

Hartlepool Nuclear Power station owner British Energy confirmed that it was looking to keep the plant open for another five to ten years after 2014 - the date it was originally intended to be decommissioned.

The move is believed to help bridge the energy gap until a new generation of nuclear power stations is built, and will secure the jobs of the plant's 500 workers for the near future.

Nuclear is understood to be a key part of the Government's energy review, which is due for release in the next two weeks.

A British Energy spokeswoman said last night: "We would hope to be extending the life of the Hartlepool plant for another five or even ten years.

"However, while this is something we aspire to at the moment, we will not be making a definite announcement on it until 2011.

"That is not saying that an extension on the life of any of our stations will replace new-build, just bridging the energy gap until any new plants can be built."

British Energy said it would be investing £20m in Hartlepool this year, on top of the £26m invested last year.

It is also increasing job numbers from 486 to 500 at the plant, which produces enough electricity to power a million homes.

Despite a difficult year at Hartlepool, with its generator being shut down for essential maintenance, output increased by three per cent during the past 12 months.

Earlier this week, British Energy posted operating profits for the past year of £635m and pre-tax profits of £599m.

It follows a financial restructuring of the once debt-laden company, which rescued it from the brink of collapse in 2003.

British Energy is benefiting from higher power prices because it does not face rising costs for oil, gas and coal, unlike other companies.

UK power prices more than doubled last year as the cost of natural gas and oil soared.

The restructuring of British Energy saw its shares return to the stock market in January last year at 286p. The company joined the FTSE 100 Index earlier this year as shares hit a high of 730p.