THE protection of the UK's nuclear power stations and radioactive material has taken a hi-tech step forward with the help of a Bury telecoms company.

Pennine Telecom, based at Salford Street in Bury, won a major contract to supply radio communications equipment to the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) Constabulary, the 500-strong police force dedicated to protecting the country's nuclear sites.

The system enhances on-site communications and enables UKAEA police officers to communicate directly with colleagues at the Home Office and the Scottish Executive Forces. It will eventually allow communication with all emergency services.

Tony Presland, the UKAEA Constabulary Airwave Project Manager, said the new systems -- at Harwell in Oxfordshire and Springfields, near Preston -- had been a big success.

He said: "The success of this project is due to a strong working partnership between the constabulary and Pennine Telecom. The company's expertise, development of a 'fit-for-purpose' control room environment and their flexibility to work around our special security requirements, have allowed both partners to overcome all the minor issues that would normally arise on a project like this."

The initial installation has been so successful that Pennine has been contracted to undertake further installations at Capenhurst, near Chester, and Chapelcross, in Dumfriesshire.

The project will be extended to Sellafield, Cumbria, next year. In addition to a significant improvement in communications, the new system has enhanced security measures and complies with encryption levels stipulated by GCHQ security guidelines.

Security was also a key consideration during systems installation. Mr Presland said: "Due to the sensitivity of our sites, we need the right kind of people to carry out all works. Pennine understood and met these requirements -- its people have been impeccable."

He was particularly pleased with the completion of the project at Harwell, which involved engineers working with a live control room.

He said: "The new control room at Harwell is a testament to the high level of professionalism of Pennine's engineers. We selected this site to demonstrate the new system to our chief constable and members of the police authority."