THE latest bout in the struggle between protestors and the company behind plans to scrap so-called "ghost ships" in the region is under way.

A public inquiry into Able UK's four appeals against refusal of planning permission to extend the use of its Graythorp site, near Hartlepool, was opened at the town's college of further education yesterday.

Able has seen off opposition from the Environment Agency and Hartlepool Borough Council, which have both withdrawn earlier objections.

It now has to overcome a small, but spirited, group of residents in a bid to convince planning inspector Ken Smith to recommend approval of its proposals to the Secretary of State.

Martin Kingston QC, acting on behalf of Able UK, gave his opening statement at the two-week hearing yesterday. He said: "The appeal site is an appropriate and perfectly located opportunity to create local employment in an industry of national importance, and is a means of preventing significant harm overseas.

"It is, in all respects, a thoroughly sustainable development proposal, with no material identifiable harm arising from it."

But Iris Ryder, from the Friends of Hartlepool, dismissed Able's claims that its plans would help prevent ships from being dismantled on the beaches of developing countries as a red herring.

She said: "It is not a case of Able stepping in to save these countries. Ships will still go to the lowest bidders."

Mr Kingston told the inquiry that he and his team would provide evidence to refute all the previous grounds for refusal by Hartlepool council.

He said: "Members of the council refused the applications for no less than five reasons. In due course, we will call evidence to deal with each and every one of those reasons to demonstrate that they are now, and always have been, entirely groundless."

Mrs Ryder responded, saying: "The council did propose health issues as an objection. This has been dropped, but not by the people of Hartlepool. Dangling a few jobs is not helping the well-being of residents.

"The people of Hartlepool don't want to be paying for this through their pockets or their health."

Jean Kennedy, another member of the Friends of Hartlepool, said: "The Seaton beaches are now deserted, where there were once thousands of people who travelled from miles around to enjoy its idyllic location.

"These ships are, and remain, illegal and are a ticking time bomb. We don't want to live in the dirty old past of industry and ill health, and we don't want to live a toxic, twilight existence.