ANGRY parents of the twelve youngsters were today planning a protest over the toxic dumping.

Allan Hill of Bar Street has three children in hospital, Samantha Hill, seven, Nicola Wellock, 15, and Ashley Wellock, 13.

He said: "All the parents are getting together and intend to see a solicitor.

"Our main worry is about the health of our children.

"We want to try to make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen again. It is criminal that a toxic substance like that should be left in the back yard of an empty house.

"Sooner or later children will find it and play with it not realising the dangers."

He said: "The first I knew was when Samantha came home covered in white powder. At first we thought it was plain flour. But when I went outside I saw some containers on a wall. "The labels said they contained toxic materials which could cause harm to the nervous system, major organs and damage the respiratory system.

"They warned that irreversible damage could occur.''

Worried about the health of his children he telephoned the police and Burnley Council.

When a neighbour told him that he had reported it two days earlier Allan rang the police again.

The fire service arrived a short time later.

Allan said it was not known how long the substance had been in the yard. He said the house had been empty for four or five months after being repossessed.

He said: "We cannot understand why it was left there. If it was stolen someone should have reported it.

"There should be a register somewhere of where it has come from. Why anyone would want to steal something as dangerous as that I don't know."

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