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| 'Toxic' birth defects verdict due | 'Toxic' birth defects verdict due |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Families who claim their children were born with defects caused by exposure to toxic waste are due to learn the outcome of their legal action later. | Families who claim their children were born with defects caused by exposure to toxic waste are due to learn the outcome of their legal action later. |
| The 18 families are suing Corby Borough Council, claiming deformities to hands and feet were due to mothers being exposed to a "soup of toxic materials". | The 18 families are suing Corby Borough Council, claiming deformities to hands and feet were due to mothers being exposed to a "soup of toxic materials". |
| It denies negligence during reclamation works at the Northants town's former steel plant between 1985 and 1999. | It denies negligence during reclamation works at the Northants town's former steel plant between 1985 and 1999. |
| The council insists there is no link between the clean-up and any defects. | The council insists there is no link between the clean-up and any defects. |
| The case at London's High Court relates to birth defects in 18 young people aged between 22 and nine, with links to Corby. | The case at London's High Court relates to birth defects in 18 young people aged between 22 and nine, with links to Corby. |
| 'Atmospheric soup' | 'Atmospheric soup' |
| Some have missing or underdeveloped fingers and three have deformities on their feet. | Some have missing or underdeveloped fingers and three have deformities on their feet. |
| The 680-acre British Steel works in the town closed in 1980 with the loss of 10,000 jobs and its buildings were gradually demolished with waste removed to a quarry to the north of the site. | The 680-acre British Steel works in the town closed in 1980 with the loss of 10,000 jobs and its buildings were gradually demolished with waste removed to a quarry to the north of the site. |
| Eighteen children were born with deformities to their hands and feet | Eighteen children were born with deformities to their hands and feet |
| The mothers have told the court how they either lived in or regularly visited Corby while pregnant. | The mothers have told the court how they either lived in or regularly visited Corby while pregnant. |
| Some have said in evidence that the town seemed "dusty" or "dirty" and David Wilby QC has told Mr Justice Aikenhead the disabilities were caused when the women ingested or inhaled toxic substances. | Some have said in evidence that the town seemed "dusty" or "dirty" and David Wilby QC has told Mr Justice Aikenhead the disabilities were caused when the women ingested or inhaled toxic substances. |
| One expert told the judge an "atmospheric soup of toxic materials" had hung over Corby during the reclamation works. | One expert told the judge an "atmospheric soup of toxic materials" had hung over Corby during the reclamation works. |
| 'No cluster' | 'No cluster' |
| But the borough council has denied the claims and said while it "has a great deal of sympathy with the children and their families", its own expert witnesses were adamant the clear-up was carried out safely and thoroughly. | But the borough council has denied the claims and said while it "has a great deal of sympathy with the children and their families", its own expert witnesses were adamant the clear-up was carried out safely and thoroughly. |
| Chief executive Chris Mallender has said: "For the past five years we have thoroughly investigated every aspect of the claims they are making and we know that there is no link between the reclamation work that was carried out in Corby, over a period of 20 years, and these children's birth defects. | Chief executive Chris Mallender has said: "For the past five years we have thoroughly investigated every aspect of the claims they are making and we know that there is no link between the reclamation work that was carried out in Corby, over a period of 20 years, and these children's birth defects. |
| "Epidemiological data will demonstrate that there is no cluster of cases and that the numbers of children with such deformities is 'normal' for the population." | "Epidemiological data will demonstrate that there is no cluster of cases and that the numbers of children with such deformities is 'normal' for the population." |
| The judge, who visited the site during the hearing, is due to rule on whether the council owed a duty of care to the claimants during the clean-up operation and, if so, whether airborne pollutants could cause the defects and if that was foreseeable. |