120 people test positive for polonium

Scientists today revealed that 120 people in Britain have tested positive for polonium, the radioactive substance used to kill the ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

Of these, only 13 people have suffered any risk to their health, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Even the worst affected person in this group is only 0.5 per cent more likely to contract cancer at some point in their life than they had been previously, the agency said.