Campaigners are calling for monitoring of the Korean Air crash site at Stansted to check for the long-term effects of depleted uranium on the environment.

Members of the Eastern Region Green Party say they want "the truth" about any potential health threat caused by the nuclear by-product.

Some depleted uranium - used as a counterbalance in older aircraft - has still not been recovered from the crater left by the Boeing 747, which crashed last month killing four crew members.

The authorities have denied there is a risk to the public's health.

But James Abbott, a Green Party member of Braintree Council, says questions still need answering.

The calls came on the day as it was revealed the Jumbo jet was carrying small quantities of another radioactive substance - iodine 125.

Mr Abbott said: "Any mention of depleted uranium brings official denials of any danger to the health of those exposed to it. In the Stansted disaster, the Korean jumbo exploded and was completely destroyed.

"We have all seen the pictures of the huge wreckage field where the plane has been completely blown to pieces.

"We are seeking reassurances as to how, under these circumstances, did all the depleted uranium remain intact?"

Mr Abbott added: "We are not trying to scaremonger, we're just asking questions out loud.

"We know that the plane was using depleted uranium in the tail as a counterweight. Now they are admitting there was iodine 125 on board.

"We want the truth about what happened at Stansted because the official line doesn't seem to square with what the state of the aircraft was."

The Greens have written to Uttlesford Council to try to find out whether all the depleted uranium on board the doomed plane has now been recovered from the crash site near Hatfield Forest.

They also want to know whether any was released into the environment and what steps are being taken to monitor the long-term health effects of exposure to any contaminated dust.

Scientists at the crash site have said there is no health risk and clean up crews have not been wearing radioactive protective suits.

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