Children face poison risk in gardens

Hundreds of families were today told their gardens could contain dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

Council poison experts warned them not to allow their children to play unsupervised in their gardens or eat homegrown fruit and vegetables.

The affected gardens in Kentish Town may need to be dug up and covered in concrete if unacceptably high levels of toxic substances from a Victorian metal-plating factory are discovered.

Property surrounding the former Ascham Street Works are the first to be tested from a list of more than 1,000 sites that could be affected in Camden.

Chromium, cadmium, nickel and lead have already been found in the area and the council must now test for dozens more chemicals, including arsenic.

Residents have received letters warning of the possible contamination of gardens and boundary walls. They are now waiting for test results, which will reveal the extent of the threat to their health and house prices. Omar Jumali, of Oliver's estate agents in Kentish Town, said the problem could "easily" knock 10 to 15 per cent off prices.

Joan and Alan Barnett have raised four children in the area and grow vegetables on the affected land. Mrs Barnett, 51, said: "We now have three grandchildren who love playing in the garden, so it is quite a shock."

Potentially harmful metals were found when the factory was demolished six years ago. Camden proposed removing a contaminated wall at the time but residents said it would reduce their privacy.

A council spokesman said today: "We have a legal duty to ensure no one is suffering unacceptable exposure to metals known to be present."