The Chinese energy company poised to invest in Britain's Hinkley Point nuclear power station is facing charges of nuclear espionage in America, it has been alleged.

The state-owned China General Nuclear Power (CGN) is accused of a conspiracy to steal US industry secrets to aid the development of Chinese technology, according to The Times.

A senior adviser to CGN, Szuhsiung Ho, is due to appear in court next week accused of recruiting US experts to find out secret information.

Mr Ho denies the charges and his lawyer says he was involved in commercial consultancy for CGN.