THE tough new policies announced by the Government to curb pollution in the seas around our shores will be welcomed by everyone who cares about our legacy to future generations.

Industry which discharges waste into the sea will have to clean up its act and the oil companies will be required to dispose of old rigs on shore.

But also included in the measures are further curbs in the levels of nuclear waste discharges from Britain's two nuclear reprocessing plants, Sellafield in Cumbria and Dounreay, Caithness.

This will be welcome news for the Lancashire coast resorts who for years have expressed concern at the level of discharges from Sellafield.

While the Government is to be congratulated in making a move that is long overdue, we must bear in mind that this is a global problem.

Our European neighbours on the other side of the North Sea must move in the same direction if the seas around our shores are not to become huge cesspits.

And we hope that countries further afield will take note of Britain's example and look closely at what they dump in the sea.

For years its has been too convenient to ditch all manner of waste in the sea and forget it. Unless we act now, future generations will inherit sea pollution on a massive scale.

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