Land at homes in parts of Paddock Wood is being tested for contamination.

Experts say they need to take samples from gardens of homes built in the late 1980s and early 1990s on the site of a former factory that made sheds and greenhouses.

It's believed there may be a chance timber treatment affected the soil where more than 260 homes were later built.

Parents are being reminded to make sure children wash their hands if they have been playing outside.

The former Hall’s Site in Paddock Wood has been listed as a top priority site in the Tunbridge Wells council area.

Now further investigations are to be made by council workers, meaning an "intrusive investigation" of the area where the Hall's site was.

Holes will need to be dug in families' gardens where it's feared people are most at risk.

A council statement says: "We will have to dig some boreholes in the ground across the area of the old factory and take some soil samples for testing.

"The holes need to be made in residents’ gardens as that is where people will be most at risk from any contamination that might be in the soil.

"From the results of the testing we will then be able to decide if the land is contaminated and therefore posing an unacceptable health risk, or if it is not."

If the land is found to be contaminated then remedial work will be carried out, with expert consultants already taken on by the council.

Residents have been sent letters either asking if experts can dig in their garden, or informing families they're in lower risk areas.

If they are in those areas, no digging will be needed.

Drop-in session have been organised for families who still have questions.

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