Tony Blair has said that Britain may have to build a new generation of nuclear power stations to meet the challenge of climate change.

The prime minister told the Commons liaison committee that America is pressing Britain to look again at the nuclear option, including a new generation of stations that some claim will be safer and cheaper.

Britain would have to take "some very difficult decisions", the prime minister said.

"I have fought long and hard, both within my party and outside, to make sure that the nuclear option is not closed off," he added.

Responding to the comments, former Labour environment minister Michael Meacher and former Conservative environment secretary John Gummer say in a letter to the Guardian that the prime minister should take "decisive action" to promote green policies and tackle global warming.