Scotland

MOD to monitor radioactive beach after new radiation alert

Scientists are continuing work at a beach where highly radioactive material was discovered.

Radioactive material was first discovered at Dalgety Bay in Fife in 1990. It is thought the contamination originates from the residue of radium-coated instrument panels from military aircraft which were incinerated and buried at the end of the Second World War.

Experts are now conducting a "systematic clearance" of a 150-metre stretch of beach after a lump of contaminated metal was discovered a few days ago. The object was 10 times more contaminated than any found before at the beach.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) said 17 more particles were discovered yesterday, although the environmental watchdog said the latest finds were not thought to be as significant as those from earlier in the week.

Monitoring has been undertaken by both Sepa and the Ministry of Defence, with radioactive material being periodically removed.

Sepa has called for an urgent "long-term remediation plan" to deal with the problem.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The MOD has been working with Sepa and the Dalgety Bay Forum to resolve the issues at Dalgety Bay. We have supported Sepa's 2011 headland investigation and continue to support Sepa in disposing of any recovered items.

"The work undertaken to date represents the MOD's serious commitment to assisting the Dalgety Bay Forum in finding a longer-term strategy for dealing with the radioactive contamination on the foreshore.

"The MOD will continue to work with Sepa, the Scottish Executive and the Dalgety Bay Forum to identify the likelihood of residual risks posed and requirement for any remedial action once the details of the most recent Sepa findings are published.

"Should significant risks present themselves in the interim, Sepa has the necessary statutory powers to address these."