An Oxford allotment has been found to be contaminated with the highly poisonous metal cadmium.

Samples of cadmium were found in soil at the Kestrel Crescent allotment at Blackbird Leys, during on-going city tests.

Environmental Health officers called on growers to take extra precautions while further testing is carried out.

Richard Atherton, assistant city environmental health officer, said: "There is no immediate risk, subject to people taking proper precautions such as washing hands after working on their allotments and taking care not to allow children to ingest soil. But the levels of cadmium discovered on part of the allotment means that further sampling must now take place."

The discovery was made as part of the on-going contaminated risk assessment in the city, ordered by Oxford city council.

Mr Atherton told the city heath and environment sub-committee that the Watlington Road and Fairacres allotments are safe. The Fairacres allotments were also given the all-clear after a four phase investigation, which included soil sampling, gas survey and risk assessment. But he said further investigations should take place before any further development is allowed in Blackbird Leys or Greater Leys.

Mr Atherton went on to report about the trap grounds allotments and Cripley Meadow allotments, known to be located on the site of a Victorian landfill, where the metals were found in the soil.

He said the lead concentrations were "regarded as tolerable" for both sites and the recommendation to take the worst plots out of cultivation was no longer justified.

The report stressed risk could be reduced by washing and peeling vegetables. It said: "It is considered that the concentrations of arsenic and mercury do not pose a risk to human health."

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