Campaign to close controversial landfill

The European Commission is taking legal action to try to close a landfill site that has polluted groundwater connected to Wearside's water supply.

Residents of Houghton-le-Spring have been campaigning for years to get the site shut down.

They took their fight to the European Union. Its been found that groundwater is still being polluted.

The company which owns the site, Biffa, has released this statement:

"Biffa can confirm that the facility in Houghton-le-Spring has already been closed to general waste.

"The company took this step when it received planning permission for the reduced, inert only fill at the site and redevelopment for employment uses.

"It should be noted that, after listening to local residents, Biffa revised plans for the site to involve an investment worth £50 million to convert the landfill facility into a major employment park, providing sustainable office and light industry space for up to 500 workers."

Dan Ashby reports.