The ships will be scrapped at a yard in Hartlepool

The 13-strong fleet of cargo and military vessels is being brought 4,000 miles from Virginia, to be scrapped at a Hartlepool dockyard.

The deal is expected to create 200 jobs at Able UK's Hartlepool yard.

But environment groups and opposition politicians say they are worried about the possible risks from asbestos and fuel oil.

The company has dismissed fears as "scaremongering".

Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for north-east England Fiona Hall, has called on government ministers to carry out assessment on any possible environmental impact.

She said: "If the ghost fleet is going to pollute the North East coast, it must be stopped.

"I am working with Berwick MP Alan Beith, who will be asking ministers precisely what assessment the government has made of the environmental impact on the North East coast.

"We need an assessment of the danger of pollution from the ships in the event of severe weather conditions like those which caused flash flooding in Teesside and North Yorkshire in August."

Creating jobs

Peter Stephenson, managing director of Able UK, said: "There is no more risk to the marine environment during transportation than for any other ship on the high seas.

"I am in the business of creating jobs and security on Teesside, not pressing the self-destruct button.

"Only a fool would go ahead with such a dangerous, unhealthy and reckless process as some pressure groups have suggested."

Peter Goodwin, from the Middlesbrough Green Party, said the deal would be detrimental to the area.

He said: "It will reinforce the smoggy image of Teesside."

Coastguard officials say the vessels will not be allowed into the country if they pose any environmental threat.