WORKERS set to go on strike at a flagship nuclear site have accused bosses of “going cold” over a pay deal.

More than 1,100 maintenance staff and electricians at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing and decomissioning site will stage a 24-hour walkout next Tuesday.

Their union Unite accused government ministers of “pulling the strings behind the scenes” and forcing the state-controlled Sellafield Ltd to adopt a “new hardline attitude” over pay talks.