THE SWINDON Pressings plant in Stratton has been diagnosed with concrete cancer.

Several old buildings on the site are suffering from the condition, which is caused by rusting metal reinforcements starting to rot.

The discovery was made in a routine inspection by workers at the BMW-owned plant in Bridge End Lane.

Many of the buildings on the plant, which employs 2,200 workers and produces panels for the new Mini, were constructed in the mid-1950s.

Cordons have now been put up around the affected buildings, which include the main tool room, while further investigations take place.

Company spokeswoman Angela Stangroom said that the condition did not present any safety risk and production would not be affected.

"A number of buildings at the plant have been identified as having minor levels of superficial concrete cancer," said Mrs Stangroom.

"It's not untypical for buildings of this age and structure.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and have taken action to ensure there is no risk to employees or visitors to the site."

Mrs Stangroom said cordons had been set up because the cancer could sometimes cause parts of the exterior to come away from the building.

But the structure of the inside of the building was not affected, she added.

Concrete, a mixture of cement, sand, stone and water, contains metal reinforcements which over time can rust and expand, putting pressure on the concrete and causing what is known as concrete cancer.

Mal Enoch, an adviser to the Con-crete Society, said it was a normal part of the ageing process and was not uncommon in buildings of this age.

"The quality of the concrete will determine how quickly the carbonation front will reach the steel reinforcements," said Mr Enoch.

"Repairing it is certainly not as expensive as knocking the building down and starting again."

Swindon Pressings is reviewing its facilities and the company has left open the possibility that some of the buildings will be vacated rather than refurbished.

The Health and Safety Executive said it would only get involved if the plant considered the problem a safety hazard.

"Concrete cancer is not a notifiable issue unless the company itself judges it to be a health and safety risk," said a spokeswoman.

Andy Tate