When radioactive hotspots were discovered by chance in tarmac and on a rugby pitch near an old nuclear science laboratory (at Harwell, Oxfordshire) the UK's Atomic Energy Authority made soothing noises - "levels slightly higher than normal" - but agreed to remove four inches of tarmac from all affected roads and the entire surface of the portion of the rugby pitch which had been laid on top of a World War II bunker stuffed with radioactive waste. The "slightly higher levels" were, in fact, 10-100 times normal background levels.

Local campaigner Wendy MacLeod-Gilford, followed the lorries and caught them dumping the contaminated tarmac and soil in the middle of a residential construction site, directly opposite a primary school. When challenged, the contractors pointed out that they were perfectly entitled to do so because the levels of radiation were below the UK safety threshold of 400 becquerels per kilogram. "If it was so safe", MacLeod-Gifford asked, "why was the contaminated waste not used for roads within the Harwell complex, or for their planned business park?"

For further information on low level radiation visit the Low Level Radiation Campaign's website: www.llrc.org