Korean officials are in Britain this week to talk to the major players behind plans for the £15 billion Moorside nuclear power station.

It is understood that representatives from Kepco have flown in to talk to NuGen chiefs and the Government after concerns were raised that negotiations were taking too long.

Kepco is the preferred bidder to take over NuGen from Toshiba and it was mooted that the deal would be concluded by September.

However, last week, NuGen announced it was restructuring as part of a review because of the "prolonged time" it had taken to seal the deal with the Korean utility.

Around 100 staff and contractor jobs, including that of chief executive Tom Samson, are at risk under the restructuring plans.

The sale negotiations include the UK government, which recently suggested it would consider giving financial support for a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet the UK’s energy needs and the Korean government, which owns a majority stake in Kepco.

Cumbria's MPs have stepped in to urge the Government to do more to make sure Moorside, which would support thousands of jobs in West Cumbria, goes ahead.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson, who will host the Cumbria Nuclear Conference on September 21, said: "The announcement is obviously of great concern and implies that negotiations are not going as hoped.

“I have long felt the Government needs to take a more proactive role in Moorside.

"They are willing to step in at Wylfa and should do so, possibly in a different way, here.

“Moorside is significant to Cumbria and the UK’s energy supply more generally.

"If the seven or so per cent that Moorside does not materialise, is it going to come from other nuclear plants or a different source of energy, such as coal?

“The nuclear industry in Cumbria is more than just new build.”

Sue Hayman, Workington MP, has written to the Government to ask them to act immediately over NuGen.

Mrs Hayman, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy, said: "NuGen is now in the last chance saloon. The Government must act now or it will be too late, and West Cumbria will not get the 20,000 jobs, economic investment and infrastructure improvements that depend on Moorside."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “The Government must take a proactive stance. Nuclear new build is not commercially viable without Government support.

"It is now time for Government to get a grip on our energy policy. In Cumbria we have the skills and experience.”

Mrs Harrison is setting up a Moorside strategic partnership, with representatives from Sellafield, Cumbria LEP and councils.

Barrow MP John Woodcock said: “The Government must not allow the lights to go out in West Cumbria and has to stand by the development of new civil nuclear build in West Cumbria.

“It will be utterly disastrous to allow the prospect of nuclear new build to go by the wayside."

A NuGen spokesman said: “Toshiba has pursued a sale of NuGen to Kepco and the prolonged time it has taken reach a conclusion has required NuGen to undertake a review.

“As such additional options are being pursued for NuGen’s future direction to deliver the next generation of nuclear new build in the UK. It has been decided by the NuGen board to reprofile the organisation at this point in order to pursue alternatives.

“The NuGen team will take the opportunity to examine how it will best proceed with its continuing mission to deliver affordable and reliable low-carbon electricity for the UK. NuGen understands and appreciates the level of interest in the project and will provide clarity to its stakeholders at the appropriate time.”

NuGen’s staff are based between its offices in Manchester and Whitehaven and its contractors work across the country.