IT is important not to read too much into yesterday's High Court ruling on the Hartlepool ghost ships.

Although it amounts to a damning indictment on the way Able UK, the local authority and Government departments have handled matters, it does not represent acceptance of the case against the contract going ahead.

In essence, the judge has called for a thorough examination of the case for and against the dismantling of the vessels at the yard.

It is shameful that such an examination did not take place before these four ships set sail.

On such a contentious issue it was imperative that relevant permissions were checked and double checked before the ships were allowed to cross the Atlantic.

The judge, Mr Justice Sullivan, clearly casts doubt over the validity of such permissions. The mere fact that it has so far not been possible for him to see a planning permission, waste management licence or environmental assessment for the proposed contract demonstrates the failure of all parties concerned.

We expect that lessons will be learned by those individuals, and bodies singled out for criticism by the judge.

Such a high-profile fiasco does nothing for the image of Hartlepool and the town's efforts to attract investment.

Under normal circumnstances it is likely to take several months, possibly more than a year, before applications for planning and environmental permissions are determined.

Meanwhile, four ships are berthed in Hartlepool. And the claims from some environmentalists that these ships are potentially hazardous are still not the subject of investigation by appropriate public authorities.

These are far from normal circumstances and it is in everyone's interest that this matter is resolved as quickly as possible.

If this is not possible, then the Government must intervene and send the ships back to the United States.

It is wrong that the people of Hartlepool are saddled with a problem not of their making for any longer than absolutely necessary.