AN environmental pressure group is calling on local authorities and the Government to ensure the North-East does not become a dumping ground for toxic waste.

Mike Childs, from Friends of the Earth, spoke out yesterday as US company Coastal Caverns Incorporated was reported to be wanting to put toxic waste in a maze of huge underground brine caverns below Seal Sands, in the Tees river estuary.

European Union rules are that toxic waste must be disposed of in specially engineered and dedicated sites.

While Coastal Caverns is yet to officially apply for a waste disposal licence, the company is understood to be looking into storing locally generated hazardous waste under Brinefield Number Five.

Mr Childs said: "The Government is finding it difficult finding places for dumping. It appears everyone is looking at Teesside and that is clearly not just.

"Local councils and regional bodies should make it very clear and send out a strong message that while they are prepared to work out how to take waste generated locally, the region will not take waste from other regions."

Councillor Suzanne Fletcher wants Stockton Borough Council to insist on an independent evaluation of the plan - and assurances that any waste will be restricted to what has been produced on Teesside.

The Brinefield caverns are owned by Ineos Chlor, a firm which quit Teesside when chlorine production - in which brine is used - ended at Wilton about four years ago.

No one was available for comment last night at Coastal Caverns, Ineos Chlor or Coastal Caverns' environment consultants, RPS.