THE mayor of Hartlepool yesterday called for all dangerous waste from the controversial Ghost Ships to be sent back to the US to stop Teesside becoming a "toxic dumping ground".

Stuart Drummond outlined to the borough council what he intends to say to a Government investigation body looking into the issue of the shipbreaking following the Ghost Ships' arrival in the North-East.

He said that, if the relevant permissions were granted, he had no problem with the ships being dismantled in Hartlepool but he was opposed to any toxic waste being kept here.

After the meeting, he said that although Teesside could be one best places in the world for ship dismantling, he could not believe that the US did not have the necessary skills to dispose of its own waste.

Able UK announced last year that it had won a contract to break-up and recycle 13 US Ghost Ships.

The contract caused an outcry, and a High Court judge eventually ruled the company did not have planning permission from Hartlepool council to build a dry dock or a permit from the Government to carry out the work.

Mr Drummond said it was not up to the council to give permission for the dismantling but went onto say: "The council would recognise the substantial potential of Graythorpe site in Hartlepool to serve as a major facility on a national scale for the dismantling of defunct ships.

"In a borough still facing persistent economic and social deprivation such prospects are significant. But the council would urge that hazardous materials should, wherever practicable, be dealt with and disposed within their country of origin."

Last night, Green campaigners accused Mr Drummond of jumping the gun and repeated calls for the ships to return to the US.

Friends of the Earth campaigns director Mike Childs said: "The council is expecting a planning application from Able UK (for the dry dock) which it must consider without bias and I hope this statement does not prejudice that.