Former chief scientist, Sir David King, attacks new coal power station plans

The former Government chief scientist has launched a stinging attack on plans for Britain’s first new coal-fired power station in 20 years – as thousands of climate change activists gather for a week of protests at the site.

Professor Sir David King, who stood down at the end of last year, warned that a return to coal-fired power risked returning the planet to the pre-ice age era, when “the Antarctic was a tropical forest”.

A week-long protest called “Climate Camp” begins on Sunday at the site of the plant, at Kingsnorth in Kent, where the energy firm E.on plans to set up two new units at a cost of