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


                                  May 6, 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:  Major Holding dated   6 May 2003



                                 SCHEDULE 10

                  NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES



  1.  Name of company.

      BRITISH ENERGY PLC


  2.  Name of shareholder having a major interest.

      BRANDES INVESTMENT PARTNERS (BRANDES)


  3.  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
      holding of the shareholder named in 2. Above or in respect of a
      non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
      holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18.

      NON BENEFICAL


  4.  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number
      of shares held by each of them.

      APPROX 340 CUSTODIAN BANKS - NO DETAILS KNOWN OF INDIVIDUAL HOLDINGS


  5.  Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.


  6.  Percentage of issued class.

      NOT DISCLOSED


  7.  Number of shares/amount of stock disposed.

      NOT DISCLOSED


  8.  Percentage of issued class.

      NOT DISCLOSED


  9.  Class of security.

      44 28/43p ORDINARY SHARES/AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS


 10.  Date of transaction.

      25 APRIL 2003


 11.  Date company informed.

      5 MAY 2003


 12.  Total holding following this notification.

      20,805,107 ORDINARY SHARES
      425,325 AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS


 13.  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification.

      8.5%


 14.  Any additional information.

      NONE


 15.  Name of contact and telephone number for queries.

      PAUL HEWARD - TEL 01355 262201


 16.  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
      this notification.

      PAUL HEWARD


 17.  Date of notification.

      6 MAY 2003


The FSA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of this
document or material  and does not accept any  liability  for error or omission.
The FSA is not liable for any damages (including,  without  limitation,  damages
for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract,  tort or otherwise
from the use of or inability to use this document,  or any material contained in
it, or from any action or decision  taken as a result of using this  document or
any such material.


                                   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:  May 6, 2003                         BRITISH ENERGY PLC

                                           By:____Paul Heward____

                                           Name:  Paul Heward
                                           Title: Director - Investor Relations