The families of eight children with limb deformities want to claim damages against Corby Borough Council.

The group's claims arise from the council's reclamation from 1985 of derelict steel works land contaminated with toxic waste.

The Northamptonshire council denies liability.

On Tuesday a High Court official said papers must be amended before a group litigation order could be considered.

The eight children born between March 1992 and September 1999 all have upper or lower limb deformities.

Six-year fight

Following the births in the area of a number of children with limb problems, a health authority study concluded there was no significant cluster of birth defects.

But the parents contended that the instance of such deformities was about three times higher than in the surrounding district.

They claim the council was negligent in the management of the reclamation programme and that airborne exposure to toxic chemicals during the embryonic stages of pregnancy had the potential to cause the children's problems.

Des Collins, solicitor for the parents, said the council had dug up the toxic waste and left it open to the atmosphere for months if not years at a time before burying it.

Charles Utley, Corby's counsel, said that it was not averse to the making of an order but wanted the case "spelled out".

Mr Utley said the council believed it had evidence that there was no negligence on its part.