SOUTHAMPTON is among the frontline ports which are joining the battle against terrorists trying to smuggle radioactive material.

Customs officials are installing screening machines in ports around the UK to stop so-called "dirty bombs'' being brought into the country by terrorists.

Southampton is one of Europe's busiest ports and plays a key role in the UK's global trading links handling around 35 million tons of cargo each year.

A Customs spokesman said a programme is under way to counter the threat of radioactive material. A three-month trial of the system had taken place in British ports, including Portsmouth, Felixstowe and Dover.

"The government has allocated £100m for anti-smuggling and border security over the next three years,'' said the spokesman.

"Part of that will be used to install the best new technology to screen anything that comes through the borders and that programme is well advanced."

The prospect of terrorists packing radioactive material around a conventional bomb is a nightmare scenario for emergency planners.

But the equipment has proved "very effective", said Terry Burn, Custom and Excise director general of law enforcement.

"There are no specific threats at the moment. Of course the intelligence lead is with others, though this is a reaction to the 9/11 events and, indeed, I suppose a continuing reaction to al-Qaida."

Scanners capable of detecting radiation can be put in place permanently or moved to areas following intelligence reports.

It is thought the counter-terrorism and scanning operations could involve up to 700 staff, with US officials providing intelligence on suspect cargoes heading for the United States.

The programme to screen thousands of freight containers will make Customs officers Britain's first line of defence against an attack.