CAMPAIGNERS have started legal action against the agencies that have given the go-ahead for a North-East company to dismantle toxic ships from the US.

Three people from Hartlepool and an official from Friends of the Earth (FoE) served papers at the High Court in London yesterday against the Environment Agency (EA) for not blocking the £11m plan.

In a landmark move, FoE is asking the court to overturn the EA's decision to grant a waste management licence, which is essential if Teesside firm Able UK is to carry out the work and create 200 jobs.

FoE's executive director, Tony Juniper, said: "The Americans have the capacity, skills and moral obligation to deal with their own waste. They should not be endangering wildlife here or dumping waste on a community that has already suffered decades of pollution."

The residents are also taking Hartlepool Borough Council to a judicial review for failing to resolve planning issues surrounding a dry dock at the Graythorp yard.

One of them, Neil Gregan, said: "I live close to the site and I am seriously concerned about the effects of scrapping these ships on human health and the environment generally."

Four of the 13 ships are being towed from the James River, in Virginia, and the first two are expected to arrive on November 10.

Next week, Hartlepool councillors are having a meeting to discuss whether to ask Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to send the ships back to the US.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Potential risks to health, safety and the environment have been thoroughly assessed, and management plans and licences put in place to ensure that all are protected."

A council spokesman said: "The council would strongly resist any application for a judicial review based on the argument put forward."

Able UK was unable to comment last night, but managing director Peter Stephenson has already accused critics of scare-mongering, and said disregarding environmental concerns would be commercial suicide.