REPORTS that five Ministry of Defence scientists are to be arrested for their part in top secret experiments - including one which killed a North-East serviceman - were denied by police.

But a police spokesman refused to rule out arrests in the future as the 18-month investigation into the Government experiment lab at Porton Down in Wiltshire continues.

The only recorded death due to experiments at Porton Down was that of airman Ronald Maddison, from Consett, who was 20 when he died after deadly nerve gas Sarin was dripped on his arm in 1953. But other servicemen have claimed they were conned into taking part in experiments without knowing what they were becoming involved with.

A Sunday newspaper claimed arrests were to be made this week but a Wiltshire police spokesman said no arrests were expected in the next few days