Workers of steelworks behind toxic waste scandal say sludge feared to have given kids cancer was dumped around UK town

WORKERS at Britain’s most toxic factory have admitted they dumped “billions of tonnes” of dangerous industrial sludge that is alleged to have given hundreds of children cancer and left them disfigured. Two former workers of what used to be Europe’s biggest steelworks – before it was dismantled in the 1980s – revealed they believe Corby, Northamptonshire, is riddled with toxic waste. Former workers of Corby Steelworks have revealed the area is riddled with toxic waste Credit: Alamy Now families affected by cancer, birth defects and miscarriages linked to the pollution have called for a public inquiry Credit: Supplied The harrowing effects of the rogue factory’s dismantling on Corby’s residents were portrayed in the Netflix drama Toxic Town, starring celebs Aimee Lou Wood and Jodie Whittaker. In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, a retired steelworks’ worker said: “They have always been dumping toxic waste around Corby. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “We have got billions of tonnes of waste from the iron making process. “Where did it all go? They definitely didn’t send it elsewhere. Bella, 10, Ivy Louise, 7, and Fraser, 9, who are all in remission Credit: Supplied Ivy Louise and her family took to the streets on Thursday to raise awareness Credit: Supplied “Well, if you think of all the massive quarries we had around here – massive holes ready to be filled. “It was just the steelworks’ policy.” Now, families affected by cancer, birth defects and miscarriages linked to the Corby steelworks’ pollution are calling for a public inquiry into the extent of the UK’s most notorious toxic waste dumping scandal. The worker added: “We hope we’ll get a public inquiry. Most read in The Sun “And then if we get one, we will be able to tell if they have done it properly, because we know the answers already. “But once they admit it’s different, because something has got to be done. “Something has got to happen – we cannot carry on.” Over the years, schools, playgrounds and entire new estates are believed to have been built on piles of waste material containing dangerous levels of lead, cadmium and other materials, with the tacit approval of the Corby’s former local authority. To the outrage of local families, North Northamptonshire Council has a list of the exact sites where potentially lethal materials have been dumped, but claim it is “not in the public interest” to disclose it. A council spokesperson wrote in a letter obtained by The Sun on Sunday: “The Council understands its obligation of transparency and the public’s general interest in accountability and openness in relation to its processes, but conduces the weight of public interest (public good) falls in favour of non-disclosure.” Bella and her mum Tonia who thought it important to join the crowd Credit: Supplied Bella with Katy Perry Credit: Supplied Families plagued for decades by horrific health issues took to the streets of Corby on Thursday afternoon, in a bid to raise awareness and spur their local authorities to launch a new investigation into the health crisis. The man-made epidemic followed the closure of Europe’s biggest steelworks in the the 1980s, when toxic waste was dumped across the town and the surrounding countryside. Childhood cancer campaigner Alison Gaffney, who organised the gathering, told The Sun on Sunday: “We will not rest until a public enquiry is carried out. “We don’t want our children to suffer because of this toxic legacy anymore. “We also want to know the exact locations where toxic waste has been dumped, because it’s our right to know it, and remediation carried out properly. “Contaminated land strategies should be available for people to look at. Why aren’t they available to the public?” Among hundreds of peaceful protesters urging the Reform-led council to disclose the exact locations where highly toxic material has been tipped, many are not even in their twenties – but have already had cancer. Bella, 10, is in remission after fighting against a tumour, but she felt it was important to join the crowd. The harrowing effects of the rogue factory’s dismantling on Corby’s residents were portrayed in the Netflix drama Toxic Town Credit: Netflix Families have been plagued for decades by horrific health issues Credit: Alamy She was only eight years old when staggered doctors found a massive non-Hodgkin lymphoma on her uterus. She is one of the ten children from Corby who received a cancer diagnosis in 2025 alone, as FOI figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday show. The Sun has previously reported on how the scandal has left Brit kids dead and born without limbs, including India Harrison who was born with deformities to her eye, jaw, teeth and arm. Elsewhere, Carlyn Dooley’s two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage-four cancer with multiple women in the area revealing how doctors were baffled by the types of aggressive cancer their children were left facing. Bella’s mum Tonia Shalgosky, 39, told The Sun on Sunday: “She is just an inspiration for all of us. “She smiled throughout the journey, me and her dad were hanging on a cliff. “She made it so easy, she never moaned, even when she went through some horrible stuff. “She came out of it beautifully, but we will never feel safe anymore. “One of the moments that broke my heart was when I had to shave her hair. “You would never think you’ll have to shave your nine-year-old’s hair, and yet it happened.” While Bella is recovering, her best pal from Nottingham Children’s Hospital’s paediatric oncology ward has now leukaemia again. Tonia added: “In hospital she bonded with another girl from Corby, who was there because of leukaemia. “They went into remission almost at the same time, and they are still best pals. “But sadly she got leukaemia again now, that’s why she is not here with her family.” “It’s a bit weird that North Northants don’t want to disclose the list of locations where they dumped toxic waste. “Why would it not be in the public interest to know where exactly?” However, a North Northants spokesperson told The Sun: “North Northamptonshire Council respects the right to protest but we are not the correct route for the public to request or lobby for a public inquiry. Individuals or groups are, however, able to lobby government for an inquiry. “North Northamptonshire Council has previously confirmed that waste from the former steelworks was deposited at Deene Quarry, a former landfill site on the outskirts of Corby. The site operates under an environmental permit held by the council, with compliance overseen by the Environment Agency. As part of the permit conditions, routine gas and water monitoring is undertaken. “The public register for sites determined as contaminated land under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 can be viewed on the contaminated land page of North Northamptonshire Council’s website.” In January this year, a report by the local council found that childhood cancer rates in Corby were not higher than average although campaigners dispute those findings.