There are fears that more lorries carrying toxic waste from across the UK could descend on a village near Swindon and worsen its traffic problems.

But the parish council has warned there is a danger of over reacting.

Purton brickworks has been earmarked as one of a handful of sites that can take poisonous rubbish under new EU rules.

Previously, 250 landfill dumps in Britain had been given permission to dispose of the waste, estimated at 2.5 million tons a year.

But, from next month, tighter laws mean the number with toxic permits has fallen to just five nationwide including Purton

James Gray, the MP for North Wiltshire, said residents feared a massive increase in dumping at the old brickworks.

He said: "A lot of people are concerned about what this means for the area. One problem is the nature of waste that will come here.

"The word toxic waste brings all kinds of things to mind, from old weapons to medical rubbish.

"I understand 75 per cent of so-called toxic waste is just soil but it is a major concern nonetheless."

Hazardous waste includes contaminated soil, paint, solvent residues, asbestos and highly acidic and alkaline solids.

Mr Gray said: "Then there is the issue of how much of this stuff is on the way. If there are only five sites to handle all the country's waste, that is alarming."

He said there was potential for a huge hike in the number of lorries coming to the area as they transported the refuse.

Yesterday Mr Gray wrote to the Secretary Of State For The Environment, Margaret Beckett, demanding answers.

The Government has appealed to landfill companies, asking more to apply for the toxic waste permits.

A total of 13 are waiting to hear if they will be successful which would take the national total to 18.

In theory, that would take some of the load away from Purton

A spokesman for the Government's environment department, DEFRA, said extra safeguards were being considered and that safety would not be compromised. He said: "The agency has been actively reviewing permit applications for hazardous waste landfills to provide for the necessary additional controls to take into account the consequences."

Ref. 30964-33But the Environment Agency claims the Government has been slow in preparing for the EU directive.

The Government has known for five years that disposing of solid toxic waste with domestic rubbish would be banned, bringing the UK in line with the rest of Europe.

'We have traffic problems already'

Godfrey Fowler, the chairman of Purton Parish Council, said: "It is a fait accompli. We have a domestic recycling unit, which is an asset to the area and, of course, we have the industrial waste site, which is used for contaminated soil already.

"The difference with this latest announcement is there are only five sites that have the permission so there is concern a lot more will descend on Purton.

"We have traffic problems already and we don't want to exacerbate it.

"There must be a question of how much of an increase in traffic there is going to be. There is also concern if the site is extended.

"We accept it as it is but more land may be taken up.

"There are concerns about what sort of waste is coming but from the information we have it all looks relatively harmless.

"As the parish council, we will be keeping an eye on it and reacting accordingly.

"Waste has got to be got rid of and there are safety issues and we have to be sure measures are in place.

"There is a danger of over reacting but we do take our responsibility seriously."