ONE of the world's leading nuclear safety experts has called for an immediate halt on the firing of depleted uranium shells into the Solway Firth until health worries can be satisfied. Dr John Large accused the MoD of "arrogance and incompetence" over last month's resumption of test firing at the Dundrennan range.

He also said the ministry had fired nearly 30 tonnes of depleted uranium into the Solway Firth which broke radioactive dumping at sea legislation - but had managed to avoid the law by claiming "Crown exemption".

Dr Large called upon the Scottish parliament and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to regulate any future firings. It is known that SEPA wants to take control.

Contamination from the armour-piercing warheads is claimed to have caused the deaths of six Italian soldiers who served in the Balkans. Troops who served in the Balkans and the Gulf War have claimed their health has suffered because of the radioactive ammunition.

The MoD has found only one of the 6,900 shells fired since 1982 - and that was dragged up by a fishing boat four years ago.

Dr Large said: "These firings should be regulated by the Scottish Parliament and SEPA because the MoD has been so incompetent and arrogant over people's health. These firings should not have gone ahead without a justification, recovery plan and radioactive impact assessment."

"They are clearly breaking the Radioactive Substances Act of 1993 which bans the dumping of radioactive material at sea. The MoD has cocked its nose at the legislation by claiming crown exemption. It is outrageous and these firings should stop immediately.

"At the very least the MoD is putting a highly toxic material which attacks the nervous system into the environment without any justification. It never seemed to cross anybody's mind in the MoD that they were dumping radioactive material." In the current tests, Challenger tanks fire shells at soft targets, usually canvas, before the fall into the sea.

Some shells have fallen short and hit land and others fragmented in flight. The MoD claims all contamination was cleaned-up immediately.

Dr Large said: "Until every-body is satisfied that the health risk is acceptable the firings should stop. " It is no good the MoD saying there is no risk. They should demonstrate there is no risk. It seems everybody except the MoD knows that uranium is highly toxic."

Environmentalists have also called on the MoD to remove the artillery shells, which have been linked to Gulf War Syndrome.

The government's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, which monitors the range, has announced that new experiments are to be carried out to "determine the rate and nature of the corrosion process of DU both in soil and on the sea bed."

Dr Large, who advises governments around the world on nuclear issues said the shells normally released radioactive particles on impact causing potential health risks.

"These particles are either wind borne or fall into the sea and could enter the food chain through fish or lower organisms," said Dr Large, who is currently advising the Gibraltar government over repairs to the nuclear submarine HMS Tireless.

But DERA said the firing of the DU shells was under strictly controlled conditions. A spokesman said: "The purpose of the firing is to research and develop and prove DU ammunition for use by the UK armed forces in times of conflict."