A farmer has been left "devastated" after being ordered to close her business to make way for a new nuclear power station.

Elizabeth Fearon , whose family has farmed at Greenmoorside, in the hamlet of Sellafield, for 30 years, has been given a year by nuclear chiefs to wrap-up her business so the three-reactor Moorside plant can be built on the land.

Leaseholder Mrs Fearon was given the "bombshell" news by landowners NuGen, the firm behind the Moorside plans. The 250 cows she keeps on the holding - 150 milk cows and 100 young stock - must now be sold.

Mrs Fearon, who lives at Gosforth, said: "It is absolutely devastating.

"Farming isn't just a job; it's my whole life. My entire business will be lost."

NuGen , who acquired the land from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said it understand the potential stress and worry this could cause.

A spokesman said: "NuGen has met with tenants occupying land or property which will become part of the Moorside Site, giving each tenant 12 months’ notice - after which their tenancy will end.

"This is to allow NuGen to continue with its site characterisation, site preparations and environmental mitigation work that is essential to the continued development of the Moorside Project.

"NuGen understands the potential for this activity to cause worry and stress for those affected. We will work with compassion and sympathy and, where we can, be flexible to help meet the needs and desired outcomes of the affected tenants."

Mrs Fearon said she has been in discussions with NuGen over the land for the past five years.

She said NuGen's representatives had previously offered to help her relocate her business, and was "shocked to be served with the bombshell notice to quit, out of the blue".

Mrs Fearon now has a month to respond to the notice and is seeking legal advice. She is also receiving support from the Tenant Farmers Association and the National Farmers Union.

"I'll be using every means I can to stop this happening. It's not just me this closure will affect; I have an employee and two casual workers whose jobs will be lost.

"There's also my local suppliers and vets who are supported by the farm. I know I'm a little part of this huge scheme but NuGen are wrong in what they are trying to do here and I want people to know that."

NuGen has previously stated it plans to lodge a planning application this year ahead of construction starting in 2020 and all three reactors on stream by 2026.

However, recent speculation over Toshiba's involvement in the consortium has raised some doubts about the project's financing.