A Bicester company has been ordered to clean up its act over radioactive materials.

The Environment Agency has issued an enforcement notice against XL Timbalex, which is now known as Auto Effects after a management buy-out in March, to improve its management of radioactive materials.

Auto Effects is registered with the Environment Agency to use equipment which contains radioactivity.

A spokesman for the agency, which will continue to monitor the firm to ensure the measures are carried out, said: "During a routine inspection the company, in Telford Road, was found to have poor arrangements for security of the material and insufficient records for compliance with their licence."

Auto Effects coat internal plastic vehicle parts, such as dashboards, using de-ionising air guns that contain a small amount of low-level radioactive material.

It is not harmful when stored properly.

Kevin O'Hara, commercial director at Auto Effects, said half the problems were due to paperwork relating to the company's name change.

He said: "Some of the certificates had not been renewed in the name of the new company."

Staff training would be completed by September, Mr O'Hara added.