CITY bosses could face costly legal action if a safety plan to deal with a radiation leak from a submarine is not drawn up by April.

A full debate on the possible use of Z berth at the city's docks to house a nuclear submarine was put on hold at a meeting of the full council.

But it emerged during the meeting that the council could face a judicial review and possible criminal prosecution if safety measures to contain deadly radiation from a leaking submarine are not prepared by city health chiefs.

Last year, the council put on hold a controversial scheme to bring a nuclear submarine into Southampton docks.

The Royal Navy was proposing to site the nuclear-powered vessel in Z berth at dock 38 in the city for recreational use.

Councillors had so little confidence in the safety plan that they told the Royal Navy to stay away until new procedures were drawn up.

The emergency plan, dubbed "SotonSafe" was supposed to swing into action in the event of a nuclear incident and included distributing potassium iodate tablets to vulnerable people in the event of a nuclear leak.

In May last year, the council wrote to the Royal Navy demanding that no nuclear-powered submarines should visit Southampton until a new safety plan had been drawn up.

The Navy replied in November last year that there were no plans for Royal Navy vessels to visit the port.

Liberal leader Councillor George Melrose said: "We have not got a choice. It is the Royal Navy which decides. We have to, by law, provide a city safety plan. Otherwise we will be subject to a judicial review. There is no question of saying that we go back to the Royal Navy and say we don't want you here because we have not got a plan."

Speaking after the meeting Labour's city council leader, June Bridle, said she was personally anti-nuclear and was opposed to using Z berth to house nuclear vessels in the city.

She said: "For a lot of people that is the case. It does include some members of the party. There are people who will say no nuclear power is safe.''

She added that the council would stage a full debate on the issue in March when the draft safety plan had been drawn up.

She said: "At this moment in time, the council policy is very clear. We would not support a plan which did not meet our safety requirements.

"What we do have to do is to have all sides of the argument to discuss it and that is the role of the council. We must hear what the Navy has to say to us. We must hear objectors. Our role is to protect the people in Southampton."

l A motion pledging the council to provide full assistance to members of the armed forces, should it be required in the near future, was also passed unanimously by members of the council last night.

Cllr Bridle said: "This city has a very proud record in terms of its support in times of conflict for members of our armed services."