With the first ship docking in Hartlepool today, the Environment Agency has set out strict conditions under which up to four vessels can be moored at Able UK's Graythorp dock.

But council bosses today demanded these include daily independent inspections on the ships.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Tom Burey said: "These conditions have just been pushed through. By getting Able UK to do the inspections, it's like saying they will be judge, jury and executioner."

Hartlepool Borough Council called today's urgent meeting in response to the Environment Agency's eleventh hour conditions for the ships' docking in Hartlepool.

It has allowed the ships to berth subject to a number of conditions which include erecting floating booms at the entrance to the dock to prevent any
spillage of materials.

A four-weekly programme of inspection will also be undertaken to identify pollutants, leaks and waste materials.

Stuart Green, the council's head of economic development, said Able UK - or a firm commissioned by it - would be responsible for the inspections.

Labour Coun Robbie Payne said: "Four weekly intervals between inspections is insufficient, it should be daily. And it should be independent inspectors and this council, not Able UK."

Independent Coun Stephen Allison said the Environment Agency's storage conditions should have a defined time-limit.

He said: "There's no time-scale on this and I'm concerned that in 10 years time we will still be monitoring them.

"The Americans don't want the ships but we could be faced with having them all here for ever."

One of the Environment Agency's conditions does, however, state that the ships should be maintained "in such a condition so that they may be returned to the port of origin".

Mr Green said the councillors' comments could only be used to express a view to the Environment Agency and did not have to be adopted by the watchdog.