FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                            Report of Foreign Issuer


                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                December 16 2003


                               BRITISH ENERGY PLC
                               (Registrant's name)


                               3 Redwood Crescent
                                   Peel Park
                             East Kilbride G74 5PR
                                    Scotland
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                          Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                               Yes ..... No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):



                                 Exhibit Index

The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished
herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions
for Form 6-K:

Exhibit       Description

No. 1         RNS Announcement, re:  'Heysham 1 Up-date'
              dated  16 December 2003



British Energy plc

Heysham 1 Update

Further to its announcement of 24 November, British Energy confirms today that
the inspections of the seawater cooling pipes at Heysham 1 have now been
completed. Having reviewed the inspection results received in recent days,
British Energy has decided it is necessary to extend the current outage in order
to replace further pipework. As a consequence, it is now expected that the
outage on the two units will continue into the first quarter of 2004.

A further announcement will be made in due course.

Contacts

Media Enquiries      Andrew Dowler (Financial Dynamics)     020 7831 3113

Investor Relations   Paul Heward                            01355 262201

Find this News Release on our web site: www.british-energy.com

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Date:  December 16 2003                    BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____Paul Heward____

                                           Name:  Paul Heward
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations