A FRESH row has erupted over the deal to scrap 13 former US navy ships in the North-East - with an MP being accused of misleading politicians on a Parliamentary select committee.

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE) said Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson had given false evidence when discussions about the so-called Ghost Fleet were held last week.

Mr Mandelson is accused of saying FoE's estimate of the amount of hazardous chemicals carried by the ships was incorrect and misleading, suggesting the group was at odds with fellow green organisation Greenpeace and that Greenpeace was not opposed to the ships.

The group said the quantities of hazardous chemicals were accurate - and were based on research commissioned by Able UK, the company hoping to scrap the ships at its Graythorp dock.

It said information on the poor condition of the ships was drawn from documents held by the American government's US Maritime Administration.

Tony Jupiter, FoE's campaigns director, said: "Friends of the Earth's reputation is based on accuracy - it is for this reason we feel the need to publicly correct Peter Mandelson's misleading statements."

Mr Mandelson insisted he had not misled anyone. He said he had asked questions of Environment Minister Margaret Beckett, given an hour's evidence to the select committee for the environment, food and rural affairs, and taken part in a TV discussion on the controversial ships.

Mr Mandelson said: "I am very glad I am keeping Friends of the Earth on their toes. In the meantime, I hope they recognise the need for sensible environmental solutions to the dismantling and recycling of ships like this which Hartlepool and Able UK are in a good position to carry out.''

* The 14,500-ton Compass Island, the fourth ship in the fleet, is due to dock at dawn tomorrow.

* To read more about the Ghost Ships, log on to: www. ghostships.co.uk