A businessman diagnosed with leukaemia has revealed he is considering filing a legal challenge against National Grid after collecting more than 30 names of cancer sufferers living within half a mile of an old substation.

Mark Owen, owner of Lush By Design and Tantalize salons, says he is sure living near the Northfleet West substation contributed to his deadly illness.

The 50-year-old, who grew up in Viking Road, has drawn up a list of 34 people who have suffered or are suffering with cancer in the past 10 years who live within half a mile of the site.

Mr Owen said he is exploring legal action against National Grid as a result, warning more people could be at risk and not even know about it.

He added: “I have a list of 34 names of people in the last 10 years that have been diagnosed with different cancers, all within a half-mile radius of where I grew up. Some of them are rare cancers as well.

“So many people have had cancer it really is frightening. People are losing their families.

“I believe there should be some compensation for the families that have lost loved ones.

“It clicked for me when I was asked by doctors if I’ve ever been to Chernobyl (scene of nuclear accident in 1986). From that I thought it must be the electricity pylons.

“I used to hear it buzzing from my bedroom at night time.”

"So many people have had cancer it really is frightening. People are losing their families..." - Mark Owen

The list includes people living in Bowyers Avenue, Mulberry Road, Fleet Road, Viking Road, Tennyson Walk, Hall Road, Pepperhill, Roman Road and Saxon Close. In Oaklands Road alone, he said there were 13 cases.

The National Grid did not respond directly to Mr Owen’s claim. But in a general statement, a spokesman said: “Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are produced wherever electricity is used and there have been some suggestions that exposure to these fields might be a cause of ill health.

"No health effects of EMFs have been established but despite 30 years of research, there is still some uncertainty in the science.

“Most people get most of their exposure from the distribution wires along the street and from wiring in their homes.

“Not many people live close to (say within 100m) of a high-voltage power line but for those who do, this will also be a significant source of exposure. Exposure from a substation is limited to an even smaller distance from the perimeter fence.

“National Grid fully recognises the public’s concern and takes this issue very seriously.”

Public Health England said a lot of research had been carried out in this field, and some studies had shown a possible link between exposure to magnetic fields and a small number of childhood leukaemia cases.

But spokesman Claudette Malone added: "Overall evidence for adverse effects on health at levels of exposure normally experienced by the general public is weak".

We reported last month how Mr Owen was told by doctors he would have died within a month had he not had a blood test which led to his diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukaemia .

He says it was only by chance his condition was identified when he was prescribed painkillers after a tooth filling fell out.

The side effects led to a blood test which revealed the rare disease, which affects just one in 100,000.

Mark and wife Kerrie have pledged to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research with Kerrie trying to raise £5,000 before taking part in BUPA’s 10k run in London in May.