Remembering a leak of potentially radioactive water on Teesside

A GOVERNMENT investigation was under way in June 2004 into a North-East radiation alert that led to the emergency evacuation of 850 workers.

The alarm was raised after more than 440 gallons of radioactive water spilled from a broken pipe at Hartlepool nuclear power station.

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Police and 13 fire engines stood by while on-site experts wearing protective clothing isolated the contaminated area and made it safe.

Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade said that the leak had been contained on site and the public had not been endangered. The one working reactor at the station remained operational.

An internal British Energy inquiry began immediately after the alert at about 2pm on June 15, 2004.

The Environment Agency and the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate, a division of the Health and Safety Executive, also investigated.

The brigade also sent its specialist environment protection unit and an emergency tender and a support vehicle from its headquarters in Hartlepool.

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A spokesman for British Energy said the contaminated, or "tritiated" water, was a by-product of the plant.

The Northern Echo's appeal to erect a statue in honour of a forgotten hero of the Second World War got off to a great start in June 2004.

Tony Blair threw his weight behind a £40,000 appeal to honour the memory of airman Andrew Mynarski.

Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for trying to save the life of a friend on a blazing Lancaster bomber.

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Although the 27-year-old is a national hero in his native Canada, his sacrifice had gone unmarked in Britain.

The Northern Echo hoped to raise enough money to erect an 8ft bronze statue at Teesside International Airport, formerly RAF Middleton St George.

And the appeal got off to a cracking start last night when all five local authorities in the Tees Valley, plus Durham County Council, pledged £1,000 each.