Heysham port and Glasson Dock could be taken over by troops in the event of a terrorist threat - if new legislation gets the go-ahead.

Dockers and other staff may also have to undergo security vetting under the Govern-ment's latest anti-terrorism initiative.

There would be three levels of security, with, in the most extreme circumstances, armed police or even soldiers taking complete control at the ports.

The proposals, revealed by senior civil servants at a meeting with unions this week, are intended to counter the threat of a so-called dirty bomb' using radioactive material, being sailed into a British port.

They should be in place at most British ports by the middle of next year.

January 16, 2003 09:30