MPS must be given a chance to debate the escalating costs of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, Newport West MP Paul Flynn has said.

Mr Flynn has long campaigned against the £20 million power station, which was given the go-ahead last year and will be just 43 miles from Newport across the channel.

And, speaking in Parliament last week, the Labour MP raised concerns over a government committee report estimating bill payers will be forced to shell out around £30 billion extra for the next 35 years to cover the cost of the facility.

Calling the plan "a financial calamity of giant proportions", he said: "The reactor has not produced a single watt of electricity, and every other example is years late and billions over budget."

Addressing leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom he asked: "Is it not essential that we debate this before we create more sinkholes into which we dump billions of pounds of public money?"

But Ms Leadsom criticised Mr Flynn for "talking down nuclear", saying: "This country depends greatly on nuclear electricity generation to keep our lights on, and it will continue to do so.

"(Mr Flynn) will also be aware that our nuclear power plants are nearing the end of their useful life.

"We need projects such as Hinkley Point C, not just to generate local jobs and growth but to keep the lights on, as a low-carbon source of electricity generation that will take us into the decades ahead."

Speaker of the house John Bercow also chipped in saying: “The honourable gentleman (Mr Flynn) has generated plenty of electricity and other energy of his own.”