A FORMER chemical worker has been left with kidney problems and requiring dialysis after working with "toxic" chemicals in the region, a court heard yesterday.

Jeffrey Lamb has taken ICI and BASF to court after working for both companies for more than 15 years. He retired in 1999 due to ill health.

Mr Lamb, 43, of Marwood Drive, Brotton, east Cleveland, claims he was exposed to nephro-toxic substances while working at the Wilton site and suffered damage to his kidneys because of this exposure.

His case, being heard by Judge Michael Taylor, sitting as a judge of the High Court Queen's Bench Division at Teesside Crown Court, claims that damage was caused by a breach of statutory duty or negligence of ICI and BASF.

The court heard Mr Lamb was a former shop steward and had worked as a utilities operator, mechanical mate and process operator. He began to have problems with his kidneys in 1986.

He told the court he had been exposed to chemicals at the site, and that protective clothing and equipment provided at the plant were inadequate.

Speaking of paper face masks given to workers to protect them from dust at the site he said: "They were neither use nor ornament for the job. It could go a full range of colours. Yellow, red, blue green and black."

He told the court he had made a number of complaints regarding health and safety at the site, particularly regarding dust extraction and ventilation.

Mr Lamb said he was one of 15 men who were found at yearly medicals held at the plant to be suffering from a level of haematuria, or blood in the urine.

Lawyers are expected to set out the defence case on behalf of ICI and BASF today.