MP Robert Jackson inspected progress on the clean-up of a controversial toxic dump next to a primary school.

The Wantage constituency MP donned protective clothing for the visit to the 18-acre site, by Harwell Laboratories, where chemical and radioactive waste materials were dumped between 1950-80.

After being partly cleaned up in the 1980s, the site, on the western boundary of Chilton Primary School, is now being excavated as part of a multi-million pound environmental restoration project.

Mr Jackson (Con) said he was very impressed with the scale of the operation "and the thorough approach being taken to restore the southern storage area".

He described it as one of the ten largest green projects in the UK and is effectively dealing with the problem of 60 years of military and industrial occupation.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority, which runs the Harwell Laboratories site, has carried out extensive consultations with villagers along with teachers, parents and governors of Chilton Primary School over safety measures during the clean-up operation.