TOXIC chemicals could have poisoned youngsters growing up in Wiltshire during the 1960s and 1970s, a study has revealed.

Publication of a bio monitoring survey this week gives evidence that unregulated chemicals used in rural areas have entered people's bloodstreams.

Wiltshire Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson was one of 155 people tested who were significantly contaminated with pesticides and flame-retardants.

He said: "What is truly disturbing about this survey is the evidence that we are being contaminated daily by chemicals whose ultimate toxicity remains largely a mystery.

"This survey shows that while current levels of contamination are very worrying, past regulation has succeeded in reducing the levels of certain targeted chemicals in the British bloodstream."