Parents were today warned to keep their children away from a building site contaminated with arsenic and lead.

The Easter alert was sparked by Britannia Homes being ordered by Bradford Council to stop work on the 70-home site near Hollybank Road, Great Horton.

And the Council warned it will take out an injunction if the Leeds-based house builder - which has started work before getting full planning consent - refused to comply.

Councillors and parents have urged the developers to improve fencing round the site to keep youngsters out while the situation is resolved.

Mother-of-three Joan Flesher, whose Bartle Lane home overlooks the site where the £100,000 houses are planned said children were easily able to get on to it.

Councillor Syd Collard, a ward councillor and chairman of the Council's planning sub-committee, said: "The site should have a fence that keeps people off and I am concerned if children can still get on it.

"I hope people will have the common sense to keep children away."

And another ward Councillor John Godward said: "You have to be ultra safe. I think there could be a problem if land is excavated and the soil is disturbed."

Britannia Homes said the fencing complied with health and safety advice and there were already warning signs to children to stay away.

The Council took the enforcement action on health and safety grounds. It said the developer had not provided enough information about the risks of the contamination.

But Britannia Home's technical director Tim Thomson said soil tests had been carried out from about 60 bore holes and the company was satisfied results due next week would show there was no danger. Anyone would have to "eat the ground" to face any risks, he said.

A spokesman at the National Poisons Information Service said workers would not be at risk but there may be hazards to children who get soil in their mouths.

The chemicals could cause damage to the brain, liver and kidneys if taken over a period of time in large quantities. There is also thought to be a potential skin cancer risk from arsenic.

Mrs Flesher, who lives with her children, Emma, 16, Rachel, 13, and James, seven, said she was shocked at the situation.

"If there are dangerous chemicals in the ground, the site should be properly fenced off and there should be signs warning people to keep away," she said.

"We've just seen three kids go on there. It is very easy for them to got on to the site and it's the arsenic that is the frightening bit to me. The residents should have more information about this."

A Council spokesman said contamination may have been caused by dyeing and bleaching at a mill which formerly occupied the site or there could have been a unauthorised tipping.

He said the company had sunk nine bore holes in the ground and found traces before its application was considered in February.

The sub-committee had decided it was likely to give approval but would have wanted more land tests and agreement on any necessary remedial action before it was to be finalised.

Mr Thomson said the site had been open land for about 20 years without problems and remedial work would make the development completely safe.

Fifty self-employed sub-contractors will be laid off without pay until the problems are settled, he added.

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