Poisoning victims give evidence

About 60 people in Cornwall have given evidence to the inquiry

Scores of victims of Britain's worst water poisoning incident have given evidence to government-appointed investigators.

The disaster happened in 1988 when water supplies to about 20,000 customers around Camelford in Cornwall were accidentally polluted with a chemical.

So far, the government-appointed group set up to look into long-term health effects has seen about 60 people in Cornwall, as well as a smaller number in London.

Cornwall-based homeopath and investigating committee member Peter Smith said the group had made five visits to the region.

Mr Smith, from Truro, who also chairs a support group for victims, said: "There is always new and interesting stuff coming out.

Wrong tank

"But 15 years down the line a lot of information has disappeared.

"We cannot get in touch with a lot of people, a lot of people have died, and a lot are still in 'runaway' mode."

The inquiry group, set up at the end of 2001 by Environment Minister Michael Meacher, aims to produce a draft report for public consultation by about the end of the year.

Hundreds drank the water after 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate were accidentally dumped into the wrong tank at the then South West Water Authority's Lowermoor treatment works in the summer of 1988.

A report published in the British Medical Journal in September 1999 said victims of the incident suffered "considerable damage" to their brain function.