Bacteria that eat radioactive waste has been discovered in Britain and could now be used to help 'eat away' at nuclear waste, it has been reported.

Scientists at the University of Manchester have found 'extremophile' bacteria which can survive the harsh conditions of underground radioactive waste disposal sites.

The findings were published in the Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology.

The tiny waste-eating single-cell organisms could help with Britain's growing problem of nuclear waste disposal, the study said.

It is the first time that scientists - who discovered the bacteria in contaminated soil in an old lime kiln in Peak District - have found microbes like it, the Daily Mail reported.

Britain has a huge problem of disposing of nuclear waste. Huge amounts of waste will be encased in concrete before being stored in underground vaults for thousands of years.

But when surface water eventually reaches the waste, it will react with the cement and become highly alkaline.

This triggers chemical reactions that create isosaccharinic acid (ISA). But researchers say these microbes can use the ISA as a source of food, the report added.