OUTRAGED political leaders have sounded the alarm over the transportation of deadly nuclear cargoes through the district. This week it was revealed that British Nuclear Fuels have plans to fly lethal nuclear waste over North Lancashire to be reprocessed at Sellafield. And secret Ministry of Defence convoys carrying 'special nuclear material' regularly travel through Lancaster to stop off at Halton Army Camp on their way to military installations.

Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson has described BNFL's plans as "absolutely terrifying" and city council chiefs have pressed the MoD for reassurance about the 'secret' road convoys.

"I don't think I've heard of anything so dangerous as this. Just the thought of it is too terrible to contemplate," said Hilton Dawson, who immediately requested a written response from Deputy Prime MInister John Prescott after being informed of BNFL's plans by the Citizen.

"I'm just aghast. I've asked the Deputy Prime Minister to make a statement and I'm looking for reassurances that this matter will be sorted out quickly. I can't believe BNFL have even considered something that could have such disastrous consequences. It just isn't on and I will be doing whatever I can to ensure the plans don't go ahead."

County Council leader, Cllr John West, was equally disturbed by the plans to fly plutonium over Lancashire.

"If an aircraft carrying plutonium was involved in an accident the results could be catastrophic," he said.

"We will be supporting calls for the Government to implement a ban on any such flights."

In a separate development, City Council pressure has led to the MoD admitting that nuclear convoys pass through Lancaster. The City Council were completely in the dark about the convoys and worried about emergency procedures in the event of an accident.

In response a spokesman for the MoD said: "For obvious reasons we do not draw undue attention to these convoys. I would like to assure you that the handling and movement of Special Nuclear Material is governed by stringent safety precautions."

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