CHEMICAL drums and waste metals which were dumped in a village 50 years ago have just been uncovered.

The borough council made the discovery at the site of a former tip in Smithy Lane, Willaston.

They found three old sand and gravel pits which had been filled with household and industrial waste, and also a number of chemical drums containing an unidentified sludge.

The Environment Agency will now test all the substances to determine their potential levels of toxicity, and organise then their safe removal.

Residents living near the tip, which is now a horse's paddock, have been kept fully informed of the findings by the borough council.

Mike Whittaker, head of the council's environmental health services, said: 'Under new legislation we can now investigate sites that were used as waste tips before 1990.

'The site we are currently studying at Smithy Lane was used as a tip in the 1950s and 1960s.

'Samples of groundwater, soil and soil gas have been collected and analysed by consultants to help us identify the types of waste deposited at the site and to establish the condition of the land.

'The findings confirm the presence of three former sand and gravel pits which have been filled with household and industrial waste.' As well as the chemical drums, other substances found included what the council describe as 'insignificant concentrations' of lead, nickel and chronium.

Mr Whittaker added: 'Further investigation is now needed in certain parts of the site to make sure all contaminants in the soil are identified.

'And we need to determine the impact of vapours in the ground and assess the likely future impact on groundwater.

'The next phase of the investigation will be co-ordinated by the Environment Agency, which has been working closely with us on this project.

'The local Primary Care Trust has also been kept informed at every stage of the study.'

He said residents have been kept up to date with developments at the site through letters, information packs and visits.

Mr Whittaker added: 'We thank them for their support.

'We are keen that the study should answer all our questions and clear up any concerns that people living nearby may have about the site.'

Ralph Ryder is local representative of campaign group CATS (Communities against Toxics), a coalition of 100 environmental groups throughout UK.

He said: 'It's typical of the irresponsibility of people in the past to just dump things like this.'