Four former US Navy vessels contaminated with toxic chemicals are heading to Hartlepool to be dismantled at a breakers yard in the town.

Friends of the Earth is asking the High Court in London to formally quash a modification to a waste management licence allowing the work to go ahead.

At the same time, three Hartlepool residents are applying to the court for an immediate injunction to stop the dismantling work being carried out on the ships.

Councillors in the town yesterday voted unanimously to call on Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to use his powers to re-route the ships.

Environment Minister Elliott Morley has told MPs the Government will look into the circumstances surrounding the deal to bring the vessels over.

The Environment Agency is not contesting today's action and has already told Able UK, owners of the yard in Hartlepool, that its licence is no longer valid.

But a spokeswoman said the agency had no powers to turn the ships back although at present they did not have permission to dock at Hartlepool.

The agency is continuing to negotiate with Able UK and US authorities - with one possible outcome being that the ships turn around.

The court case today is the latest chapter in a series of legal wrangles as environmental groups battle to stop the vessels coming to the UK.

Before setting sail last month, a last-minute injunction in a US court prevented nine of the 13 ships from sailing pending a further hearing.

The first two ships to set sail are just days away from UK waters and Friends of the Earth want to ensure that their licence to be dismantled here is formally quashed.