The ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper shows 48 percent of people are against expanding Britain's existing nuclear facilities while 45 percent are in favour.

Last month, British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a sweeping review of the country's energy needs that will specifically look into the option of building new nuclear power stations.

Blair is thought to be in favour of resurrecting the nuclear programme and combining it with renewable sources to help meet future energy demands and cut damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

Any move towards nuclear would be controversial, with Blair likely to meet opposition within his own ruling Labour party and from environmentalists.

A report into the favoured options is due by mid-2006.

Britain has about a dozen nuclear power stations, most of them built in the 1960s and 1970s, providing about 25 percent of the country's electricity, compared with natural gas which provides about 40 percent.

ICM interviewed 1,004 adults by telephone between December 15 and 18.

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