He said: "I find it totally unacceptable that thousands of people have to live in fear in order for an arrogant company to make a few extra pounds. Environmental pressure groups believe the flasks "sweat" radioactive material that could be fatal if released into the atmosphere.John Reid, the Transport minister, told the IoS: "I am aware of public concern on this issue and, as part of our ongoing programme of independent checks on the effects of the transportation of radioactive material on health and the environment, we will be sponsoring independent checking of contamination levels on radioactive packages, concentrating on irradiated fuel flasks."BNFL used nearby secure marshalling yards until it switched the contract for moving all its spent fuel, from English, Welsh and Scottish Railways to Direct Rail Services, a BNFL subsidiary.Rudi Vis, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said the decision to use its own rail company and move the marshalling to Cricklewood was motivated by money. Some parents want to withdraw their children from local schools. The Independent on Sunday has learnt that the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has instructed the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies to check on radioactive fuel flasks. The move was prompted by a backbench Labour MP who wrote to John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, over plans by BNFL to store trains carrying spent fuel in a London suburb for 15 hours each week.BNFL wants to use sidings at Cricklewood, north London, to marshal trains bringing fuel from three power stations - Sizewell in Suffolk, Brandwell in Essex and Dungeness in Kent - on their way to its reprocessing plant at Sellafield.The plan has sparked local outrage as residents fear a train could be derailed because of vandalism on the line. His health problems became apparent soon after he got a new phone: "When I used the phone it was like someone was sticking a finger in my ear I've now restricted my use of the phone dramatically. The companies should make you aware of the risks."I smoke like a trooper and drive like Nigel Mansell but I know what the risks are.

The phones are like microwave ovens - they cook from the inside out. I certainly don't think they are safe to use for a long duration.". THE Government has ordered a review of the safety of transporting spent nuclear fuel by rail in the light of plans by British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) to store atomic material in a densely populated area. There is no reason for me to develop cancer apart from the link with the phone. I don't drink or smoke and have a healthy diet."There is now always the thought in my mind whether other tumours are going to develop and it was very frightening when I went blind."I think the risks, however small they may be, should be made public. Instead, the manufacturers seem to be reacting after the event."Paul Betts, a 36-year-old mechanic from Watford, in Hertfordshire, now uses a hands-free phone attachment after experiencing a burning sensation in his ear.

When I started to get headaches, I didn't think there was a link so I carried on using the phone," he said."But the cancer I have is very rare and there is nothing in the family like this. The company director from Middlesex is suing Motorola through solicitors Leigh Day. Mr Howard, who has used a mobile for nine years, first started to experience headaches two years ago and then discovered a lump where he held the telephone to his ear.Doctors have removed two tumours from his head and plan to operate on a third which has developed on his brain stem. He also suffered temporary blindness as a result of the tumour.The company director, who now uses a radiation shield on his phone, says he was never informed of any health risks by the manufacturers."I was making four to five calls in one go and was probably speaking on it for about half an hour a day. I don't blame BT, because no one knew about the risks at the time.