An increased number of some types of childhood cancers exist around the former Harwell nuclear research site in Didcot, according to a report published today but the site has not been blamed.

The findings came in the 10th report on the risk of cancer in children surrounding nuclear sites carried out by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the environment (Comare).

However, these were similar results as found in past studies, showing slight increases in cancers near some nuclear sites, although there is no clear evidence of a causal link.

Prof Bryn Bridges, chairman of Comare when the report was put together, said that Aldermaston, Burghfield and Harwell showed a significantly raised incidence of solid tumours in their area.

Figures reveal that the area of Berkshire and South Oxfordshire where these three sites are based has traditionally had higher cancer rates for reasons that remain unclear. But Prof Bridges said that the actual level of nuclear discharge around these sites, whose areas overlap, was lower than was seen at Sellafield during its peak of high emissions in the 1970s.

The report also said that there is no evidence that children living near nuclear power stations in Britain are at greater risk of cancer. The Didcot-based Health Protection Agency said: "Extensive investigations have suggested that radiation doses from nuclear discharges are much too low to account for the extra cases of childhood cancer in the observed clusters."