Amber Online

Three Hebburn residents are going to Strasbourg to demand an end to pollution from the town's coke works.

The trip in mid February this year is the latest step in a long-running campaign to force National Smokeless Fuels to clean up the works on the doorstep of two housing estates. Protestors from Hebburn Residents' Action Group have already raised pollution fears with council and government authorities in Britain - and say they have got nowhere. Now they are hoping Common Market cash can be found to help in an environmental clean-up. And they want to check to see if Euro pollution laws are being flouted by the coke works. "We'll be talking to anyone and everyone who'll listen," said HRAG spokeswoman Jennie Shearan. The group wants Euro aid to pay for double glazing, for environmental improvements at the works and to fund a health study of people living near the cokeworks. But it's been given no cash from South Tyneside Council to fund the Euro trip. The council claims the lobby is "political". During their Strasbourg visit the protesters will lobby Tyne Wear Euro MP Joyce Quin (Lab) and Durham Euro MP Stephen Hughes (Lab).