CEMENT firm bosses today hit back at the Environment Agency's surprise temporary ban on controversial Cemfuel by vowing ''We will prove it is safe''.

Castle Cement had an emergency meeting with the environmental watchdog yesterday to discuss the ban.

The company described the agency's move as a ''temporary halt'' and says it intends to start using Cemfuel again as soon as possible.

The agency served the Clitheroe-based company with a notice to stop burning the controversial fuel until further notice.

It says it is unhappy with the way the fuel is sampled and analysed at Castle Cement before it is burned.

Ribblesdale works general manager Mr Ian Sutheran: ''I want to make it clear that use of Cemfuel has not been banned.

"We have been told that we must temporarily stop burning the fuel at Clitheroe while we prepare for the agency's detailed proposals to reinforce further our batch sampling of Cemfuel deliveries.

"We are already working on this and expect to give the agency the reassurances it requires within the next day or so.''

He stressed that the agency had not suggested that there had been any emission problems arising from Cemfuel and its recent air quality survey had proved this.

Castle Cement immediately stopped using the fuel on hearing the agency's announcement and reverted to using coal in its kilns at its Ribblesdale works.

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