NORTH Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has demanded answers from energy firm RWE amid the Didcot power station disaster.

Together with fellow government minister Mike Penning he has warned RWE Power that they risk being hauled before Parliament if there are more delays in recovering the bodies of three men who remain missing in the rubble since the disaster on February 23.

The MPs wrote: "The delays to date have caused considerable distress to the families of the men...the longer that RWE takes in providing suitable plans, the greater the cost to all who are affected by this tragic event'.

RWE revealed yesterday that it would blow up the remaining half of the boiler house to help recover the remains of the three trapped men.

The firm said it was necessary to carry out the demolition following the collapse of half of the structure in February. The disaster killed worker Mick Collings, 53, from Cleveland, and buried three others, Chris Huxtable, 34, Ken Cresswell, 57 and John Shaw, 61.

Their families have been campaigning for more action on the recovery.

In the letter addressed to RWE chief executive Peter Terium on June 14, which has only now emerged, the MPs said the company was "eroding" confidence in its ability to deliver a "safe and effective" demolition plan.

They wrote: "No one doubts there are complex engineering challenges being faced to demolish the existing building safety.

"However, we are struggling to understand how one of Europe's leading power companies operating in high hazard industries and with a reputation for innovation has been unable to marshal its expertise and resources to deliver a timely demolition plan to allow the missing men to be safely recovered and returned to their families."

The MPs warned Mr Terium he and senior management could be called into Parliament for questioning if delays continue.

They also demanded assurances a plan was in place and said they understood the building could be demolished by July 10 but RWE said a decision had not yet been made on the date.

The widow of Ken Cresswell, Gail, said she was "disgusted" by efforts to recover the men.

The mother-of-three from Rotherham said she was unable to find closure on the "never-ending" nightmare.

She added: "I'm disgusted that the men could go to work on February 23 and just never return. 17 weeks later we have not got them back, when they could go in and get them.

"When this is all over they can leave it, but we have got to live with this for the rest of our lives. They are putting us through hell."

Part of the boiler house at Didcot A collapsed while it was being prepared for demolition by Coleman & Company. Since then emergency services have been trying to recover the three while police and the Health and Safety Executive investigate the cause.

Brown and Mason took over the recovery operation last month but has not yet completed its assessment of how to demolish the building. RWE, which owns the site, is yet to devise a timescale for the demolition.

RWE spokeswoman Kelly Nye declined to comment on the letter.

She added: "We will bring the building down as soon as possible. Once we have determined the final date the families will be the first to know.

"We are continuing to work closely with all authorities involved in the tragic Didcot building collapse and our focus remains on finding the missing men. We have received a letter from minsters responsible for major incidents such as these and we have shared our response with the families."