DEFENCE chiefs have been accused of a serious security lapse for making public details of areas of the region regularly crossed by nuclear weapons convoys.

Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, is to report the matter to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon today.

A list of local authorities affected has appeared on the Ministry of Defence official Internet website. They include Darlington, Durham, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Gateshead and York .

The disclosure has been met with disbelief by disarmament campaigners.

They see it as a gaffe by the ministry at a time when Home Secretary David Blunkett is proposing tough new legislation because of the threat from terrorists.

Mrs Taylor is Parliamentary Private Secretary to both Defence Under Secretary-of-State Lewis Moonie, and Procurement Minister, Lord Bach.

She said: "This is a serious lapse in security measures and I shall, with great urgency, bring it to the attention of the Secretary of State. I am very concerned."

Lorry convoys regularly transport nuclear warheads and weapons-grade uranium and plutonium between bases in Scotland and plants in the South.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is a member of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities. Council leader David Walsh said: "We are concerned about this, particularly given the proximity of any movement of those weapons in an area stuffed full of petro-chemical plants."

Tony Myers, of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "I am in favour of open Government but their timing for this is bizarre."

A spokesman for campaign group, Nukewatch, described the use of roads for transporting nuclear weapons as "irresponsible".

The MoD said disclosure of the information was part of the Government's commitment to greater openness.

"We are confident our arrangements are secure," said a spokesman