Huge opportunities lie ahead for firms along the east coast from the building a new nuclear power station, a leading figure behind the project has said.

EDF Energy hopes to build a third power station at Sizewell, near Leiston, in the years ahead.

Tom McGarry, EDF Energy's head of communications for Sizewell C, believes that will have a huge boost for the wider area in creating skilled jobs for workers, as well as work for nearby firms in the power station's supply chain.

'There are huge opportunities that come from the planning of major infrastructure projects, not just the building of them,' he explained.

'There is a growing demand for electricity as more of our transport and heating systems become electric.

'We can't just rely on coal and gas - we have got to be lower carbon.

'The government talks about the northern powerhouse - but this is the part of the world that will power that powerhouse.

'Think about that opportunity and prepare for it.'

Communities close to Sizewell have complained that they have been 'left in limbo' by uncertainty over whether Sizewell C will be built, with industry commentators saying a final decision on the project might not be made for years.

But Mr McGarry said it was important to 'use this down-time to prepare for the future. otherwise we could lose the opportunity like we did to Aberdeen in the 1980s to oil and gas'.

He added: 'We can't allow that to happen again.'

At a talk at last week's Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, held at the Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, Mr McGarry also outlined EDF's plans to reduce the impact on the area by looking at building new rail lines for freight and accommodation for workers on site.