Aluminium sulphate was poured into the wrong tank in 1988

An inquiry into the UK's worst water poisoning incident has found fresh evidence of the impact on peoples' health.

Government-appointed investigators have interviewed more victims of the poisoning which happened in north Cornwall 15 years ago.

Water supplies to about 20,000 customers in the Camelford area were accidentally polluted by 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate.

Investigating committee member Peter Smith said: "New and very valuable information has come to light.

People report that there are many others out there still afraid to come forward for fear of accusations of jumping on the bandwagon Peter Smith, Department of Health

"The committee is getting a much deeper understanding of the effects on people's health and beginning to very clearly see the patterns of health disruption that have occurred."

It was the third visit of the Department of Health's committee on toxicity subgroup to north Cornwall.

The group carried out private interviews with 10 victims of the incident.

At least one other round of interviews will be held before the committee's draft report is finalised.

Wrong tank

Mr Smith, who also chairs a support group for the victims, appealed for more people to give evidence to the committee.

"People report that there are many others out there still afraid to come forward for fear of accusations of jumping on the bandwagon, but whose health concerns are very real and whose lives have been considerably affected."

Hundreds of people drank the water after the aluminium sulphate was accidentally dumped into the wrong tank at South West Water Authority's Lowermoor treatment works in the summer of 1988.