ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners opposed to the four former US Navy ships moored in a North-East dock will launch the first offensive of their legal battle on Monday.

The High Court will hear Friends of the Earth's application for a judicial review into a decision by the Environment Agency to modify a waste management licence granted to Able UK.

The company plans to dismantle and dispose of the US ships at it recycling facility at Graythorp Dock in Hartlepool amid controversy.

Friends of the Earth's lawyer Phil Michaels said: "This case is about ensuring that international laws to protect our wildlife are complied with, and that local people are not deprived of their right to be involved in decision-making on issues which affect their environment."

The Environment Agency has previously admitted the modification was invalid because planning permission for a dry dock is not in place.

It said it would not contest any of Friends of the Earth's grounds for having it formally quashed but defiant Able UK is opposing the application.

Yesterday a spokesman said the agency would rather not comment until after the hearing.

If the legal challenge is successful, Able UK will have to apply for a new waste management licence and carry out a full environmental assessment if it wants to dispose of the ships on Teesside.

Later this month a group of Hartlepool residents are mounting a challenge against Hartlepool Council and the Environment Agency in the High Court to argue that the planning permission that is in place does not allow ships to be dismantled.

* For more information log on to www.ghostships.co.uk