A GOVERNMENT body will today acknowledge a link between overhead power lines and childhood cancer for the first time.

A study from the chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, published today by epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll, has given fresh impetus to protestors fighting plans for a 50-mile electricity pylon line between Teesside and York.

Mike O'Carroll, of pressure group Revolt, said: "It is a big step forward in recognising an association of increased child leukaemia with exposure to fields from power lines."

The study, from the board's Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation, follows months of analysis into cancer cases of people living near power lines.

It says children living near some pylons could face a slightly increased risk of contracting leukaemia, although further research will be needed before any casual link is proved.

Professor Denis Henshaw, a physicist at the University of Bristol, who specialises in the effects of low-level radiation on the human body, said his research - which is separate from Sir Richard's - showed there was "certainly" a link between power lines and cancer in children and adults.

He said: "There were two major international reports published last autumn showing this. Our research, and also other international research, shows a possible mechanism as to how this can actually occur."

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh said she would be relaunching her campaign to prevent the building of pylons through her constituency.

"Tens of thousands of people already live within close proximity to pylons in this country, and if the line were to be built in the Vale of York, the well-being of many others would also be unnecessarily jeopardised," she said.

Miss McIntosh is calling on Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers to impose a moratorium on the line until further investigations had been carried out