A group of environmental organisations has called on the authorities in Bangladesh to improve conditions in the country's ship-breaking yards, which they say are the most dangerous in the world - both to workers and to the environment.

They say about 5,000 people have died in the yards in Bangladesh over the past 15 years.

The groups also say that Bangladesh is fast becoming a dumping ground for old ships from Europe containing toxic materials.

A spokesman for the Greenpeace organisation said Bangladeshi ship-breaking yards could face an international boycott unless they took steps to improve safety for workers and reduce damage to the environment.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service