Angela Merkel, the German chancellor has shut down seven of Germanys nuclear power plants while the country rethink their strategy.

Merkel announced that all plants built before 1980 would be taken out of service, and safety checks would be made on the remaining plants that stay open.

Japans earthquake and subsequent radiation problems following damage to one of their nuclear plants has caused other countries to rethink the safety of the energy source.

The EU has also reached an agreement which will see "stress tests" carried out on all European nuclear facilities.