MORE than 4,000 possible areas of contaminated land have been identified across the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire.

Now each of them is to be individually assessed to discover whether they contain any potential health risk for people.

The survey of suspect sites will begin later this month.

As part of a national Government-led programme, the authority has a duty to identify potentially contaminated sites and then assess any risks.

The council has identified 4,200 sites which need to be checked, although environmental health officers expect most of them will be given a clean bill of health.

"Contaminated land - that is land which contains unacceptable levels of a harmful substance - has only recently been recognised as a potential risk to both human health and the environment," said head of environmental health Eric Kendall.

"We have now identified and prioritised sites which need checking in Hambleton and must carry out more detailed investigation work.

"Safeguarding the health of the residents is our primary concern. If there does prove to be any contamination, then the council will ensure that the site is fully cleaned."