POLICE investigating experiments on servicemen at Porton Down chemical warfare base are to interview a North-East man.

John Armstrong, of Farringdon, in Sunderland, is an alleged victim of the human guinea pig tests at the Ministry of Defence base, in Wiltshire.

The 80-year-old is to be asked about his time in Porton Down's gas chambers, in 1940.

Mr Armstrong claims that his eyes were permanently damaged by mustard gas and has won cash from the Pensions Review Tribunal, which admitted his eyes were injured during military service.

He said the only time he was exposed to gas irritants was at Porton Down.

Wiltshire Police have prepared a file on the death of County Durham airman Ronald Maddison, who died, aged 20, at Porton Down, after an experiment.

An inquest held when Mr Maddison, of Consett, died in 1953 could be reopened