France’s government is reportedly demanding a multibillion-pound handout from Britain to cover the budget of nuclear power projects being built in the UK by French energy giant EDF.

Paris is pushing for a “global solution” to solve funding issues at the Sizewell C plant and the new Hinkley Point site in Somerset, a French official told the Financial Times.

It comes after EDF this week admitted the cost of construction at Hinkley Point had risen by as much as £10bn to £35bn.

It added the reactors will come online up to four years later than planned.

The Government this week had already committed an additional £1.3bn in funding for the construction of Sizewell C, the planned nuclear plant in Sussex owned by EDF and the Government. 

Taxpayers own a stake in the plant after the Government became uncomfortable with it being part-owned China General Nuclear.

“It’s a Franco-British matter,” the French economy ministry official told the FT. 

“The British government cannot at the same time say EDF has to figure it out alone on Hinkley Point and at the same time ask EDF to put money into Sizewell. 

“We’re determined to find a global solution to see these projects through.”

Read the latest updates below.