Birth Defect Families Win 'Toxic Soup' Case

A group of people, who were born with defects after their mothers were alleged to have been exposed to toxic waste, have won a group action against the council they believe is accountable.

The families of 18 young people, aged between nine and 18, have sued Corby Borough, claiming deformities to hands and feet were due to mothers being exposed to a "soup of toxic materials".

They say the toxic materials were released into the air at its British Steel plant between 1985 and 1999.

The council denied it was negligent during reclamation works at the Northamptonshire town's former steelworks, and that there was a link between the removal of waste to a quarry north of the sire and the childrens' defects.

The 680-acre site in the town closed in 1980 with the loss of 10,000 jobs and its buildings were gradually demolished with waste removed to a quarry to the north of the site.

The London High Court ruling is the first time a court has judged that the plant's material could cause serious birth defects - however, Mr Justice Akenhead said his ruling on liability did not cover the two youngest claimants.

Lawyer Des Collins said: "Prior to the trial, the council maintained that a thorough investigation had led it to the conclusion that there was no link between the reclamation work and the children's birth defects.

"It also maintained that had any convincing evidence been shown that the children had good claims then the council would have wanted to compensate them appropriately without going to trial.

"Today that link has been established and the evidence provided.

"The children now call upon the council to fulfil their pre-trial promises without delay."

Corby Borough Council said it was disappointed with the result but would now consider its position carefully.

Chief executive Chris Mallender said: "We are obviously very disappointed and very surprised at the outcome of this trial.

"Our position has always been that there was no link between the reclamation work that was carried out in Corby in past decades and these children's birth defects. That is still our position."

(JM/CD)