POLICE investigating alleged chemical warfare experiments on servicemen have ordered their own medical tests.

However, any case brought might never come to court because the scientists involved in the original research are dying off.

An inquiry was launched following claims that servicemen, including two from the North-East, were duped into taking part in experiments at Porton Down, in Wiltshire.

The county's police force has convened a panel of medical experts, including specialists in toxic chemicals, and commissioned tests into the medical effects of CS spray and nerve gases. The bulk of the human guinea pigs were said to be exposed to mustard gas, nerve agents, CS gas and LSD during the 1950s and 1960s.

In a letter to former serviceman Gordon Bell, of Sunderland, last week, Chief Superintendent Gerry Luckett confirmed that criminal offences had occurred.

Mr Bell claims RAF man Ronald Maddison, from Consett, County Durham, died in May 1953 after a nerve agent was dripped on his arm.

Despite the new investigation however, there are fears that scientists involved in any wrongdoing may die of old age before they can be brought to book. So far, only one official involved in experiments on an individual in 1960 has been cautioned, and he denied any direct involvement.

Many of the Ministry of Defence officials responsible cannot be found because some have died and documents have been destroyed, according to one detective close to the inquiry.