The four ships will stay on Teesside until next year

The court has been told that Britain must not become the "dustbin" for the American Navy's old ships.

Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth (FoE) want to prevent the so-called US "ghost fleet" from being scrapped on Teesside.

They want a judicial review of a decision by the Environment Agency to allow Hartlepool-based Able UK, from carrying out work on the vessels.

A successful challenge could mean the ships being sent back to the United States.

Able UK wants to decommission a total of 13 vessels.

David Wolfe, appearing for FoE, said the four US navy ships at Hartlepool were covered by an injunction that no work be carried out until the legal position has been clarified.

He said: "Those 13 are only a fraction of the 150 or so US navy ships which the US wants urgently to dispose of, and are waiting for disposal in rivers in the US".

FoE wanted to ensure Able's activities were subject to proper consideration by regulators and the court.

Mr Wolfe added: "In particular, these claimants are concerned that the UK should not become the dustbin for the US navy's old ships."

The interior of the ships have been examined by Able UK staff

The first two ships to arrive on Teesside were met by protesters, who said the fleet was an environmental hazard, containing asbestos and other waste material, and should not have been allowed over from America.

But demonstrators have stayed away since, saying they are now waiting for the outcome of the legal challenge.

Able UK won a contract to dismantle and recycle 13 vessels from the outdated US fleet.

The remaining nine vessels which formed Able UK's contract, will stay in Virginia at least until next spring pending separate legal challenges there.

Able UK boss Peter Stephenson says he is confident the courts will rule that the work should be carried out on Teesside, creating 200 jobs.

Before the hearing Mr Stephenson said: "When people know the truth about these vessels, they will realise there's nothing at all to be worried about.

"I am confident that the work will eventually go ahead here and people should actually be proud of the fact that we secured the contract from America."

Oils and oily ballast water could cause damage to the marine environment. Asbestos is a known carcinogen but is denser than water and non-soluble. PCBs have been called "probable carcinogens" and have been linked with neurological and developmental problems in humans. Mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium are highly toxic metals which accumulate in the body.