A SAMPLE of the environmentally hazardous chemicals found dumped in two lay-bys near Worcester has been sent off for analysis.

Fifteen drums of the chemicals, believed to contain carcinogenic PCBs, were discovered dumped on the lay-by on the A4103 near Bransford and the lay-by near Hurron's Garden Centre in Leigh Sinton over the weekend.

Betta Environmental Solutions were called to the two scenes shortly after 8.30am on Saturday, and retrieved the full 205 litre drums and took them to the Betta Specialist Waste facility in Warndon.

"They will be kept in quarantine until we can identify what exactly we are dealing with," said John Wainewright, managing director of Betta Environmental Solutions.

"My chemist has sent off a sample to be analysed."

Mr Wainewright said he hoped to hear more later today

So far, the evidence suggested the drums contained polychlorinated biphenyl, known as PCBs, which Betta chemist Bal Bansal described as the "highest environmental hazard".

Mike Davis, highways partnership manager for the Worcestershire County Council, blamed flytippers because drums were found in two separate lay-bys.

"All the evidence points to it being flytipping and they had almost certainly been left there deliberately," he said.

Mr Davis asked anyone who saw the drums being dumped sometime overnight between Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13, or has any information about the incident to contact Worcester Police on 01905 723888 or the Environmental Agency on freephone 0800 807060.