MORE than 100 homes in three Ribble Valley villages are being fitted with monitors to track levels of a natural gas.

The move by Ribble Valley Council comes after a survey by the British Geological Survey highlighted above average levels of radon in Chatburn, Downham and Grindleton. The gas - which can induce lung cancer when occurring at very high levels - was also found small parts north of Clitheroe. Radon - a naturally occurring, colourless, odourless radioactive gas - is blamed by the National Radiological Protection Board for between 90 and 280 deaths a year of people who have spent long periods of time in buildings where the gas has collected.

All the areas had previously been thought to be safe from high levels of seeping radon, which comes out of the ground and gathers in enclosed spaces.

Environmental health officers at Ribble Valley Council have begun visiting houses in the affected areas to persuade them to have the monitors, would carry out tests over three months, fitted. Homeowners may ultimately face the prospect of having to pay for adaptations to their homes which would prevent the build-up of the gas.

Ribble Valley Borough Council environmental health officer Matthew Riding said: "High levels of radon in houses can be remedied by making minor structural alterations, such as increasing ventilation. Selected residents will be approached to undertake this free research, which we hope will establish radon is not a major problem."

Information is available from Matthew Riding on 01200 414470 or the National Radiological Prevention Board on 0800 614529.