LITTLEPORT residents who have suffered the misery of living on contaminated land look set to be one stage closer to the end of their ordeal this week. The district council is expected this afternoon (Thursday) to approve a bid for Government funding for

LITTLEPORT residents who have suffered the misery of living on contaminated land look set to be one stage closer to the end of their ordeal this week.

The district council is expected this afternoon (Thursday) to approve a bid for Government funding for remediation work to be carried out on properties that stand on the site of a former gasworks.

The council has already agreed to bear the £347,000 costs to clean up 26 properties but it is now looking to Defra - the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs - for funding to remediate five homes that were built directly on top of the former works.

Residents have long feared they will be unable to sell their homes as a result of their contaminated status

and there were also concerns about the health of children in

the area playing on the land.

The cost to clean up the site is estimated at £371,000 and the council must convince Defra that is has pursued every available avenue to secure funding.

A spokesman said the process is on schedule and the work should begin in late summer this year.