A NORTH-EAST mother believes four members of her family have died because their homes were in the shadow of electricity pylons.

Dawn Erickson's mother, brother, sister and cousin have all been killed by cancer at a young age.

Her family had lived in Chaucer Avenue, South Shields - labelled "death row" by neighbours concerned about the number of cancer cases - for more than 20 years.

Ms Erickson, a mother-of-one, is convinced that the deaths in her family were connected to the pylons which loom over one side of the street.

Her brother, David, was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 1986 at the age of 30.

Five years later, in 1991, her mother, Ada, died of liver cancer.

At the age of 42, her cousin, Mary Milne, who had also lived in the street, died of cancer.

Ms Erickson said: "I don't think it's so much the pylons, but the cable which runs from one end of the street to the other.

"We have been devastated by all the deaths. I honestly believe more of my family would be alive today if they had not lived in that street."

Ms Erickson and the surviving members of the family have to undergo regular check-ups to ensure that they are not affected by the disease.

A link between pylons and childhood leukaemia has long been disputed, but a report published this week by respected epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll has warned that there could be a link between pylons and cases of cancer.

A South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council report into the subject is expected to deliver its findings soon.