Germany has suspended plans to extend the life of its ageing nuclear power stations in the wake of the Japanese crisis.

Last year chancellor Angela Merkel approved plans to put back the date when Germany abandons nuclear power by a decade to 2030.

But she has now announced a three-month moratorium on these plans.

Ms Merkel says if a highly developed country like Japan, with high safety standards, cannot prevent the consequences for nuclear power of an earthquake and a tsunami then it has consequences for the whole world.

Elsewhere, Switzerland has suspended plans to build new nuclear power stations.

But Poland is pressing on with its two new plants, with its prime minister saying Poland does not have the same risk of earthquakes as Japan.