BOSSES at Bolton's new incinerator have condemned green campaigners who claimed the plant could be responsible for three deaths a year.

Greenpeace chiefs alleged that nitrogen oxide emissions from the Raikes Lane plant could cause the deaths.

But a BEN investigation has revealed that Government figures used in the campaigners' calculations have now proved to be flawed, slashing the number of alleged deaths by a factor of 100.

Last week, Government bosses were told of the inaccuracy which appeared in the 1999 report, but the environmental campaigners say they were not aware of the findings.

It means that the Greenpeace claims about deaths have proved to be incorrect.

And Stephen Jenkinson, managing director of the new Bolton plant which is still being commissioned, slammed the group's allegations.

He said: "Anybody who is cavalier and not thorough enough to fully investigate and validate information they give out to the general public is irresponsible."

Greater Manchester Waste Ltd will operate the plant which has been under commission since April.

The incinerator will use energy, produced from the burning of waste, to produce enough electricity for use in 7,000 homes.

Environment Agency inspectors revealed that ammonia will be injected into the incinerator's flue to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Agency figures have also revealed that more than 90 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions in Bolton are given off in traffic fumes.

The plant will also be constantly monitored to ensure stringent safety standards are not breached.

Last night a Department of Environment spokesman confirmed that a correction had been made to the report's figure about the number of deaths linked to nitrogen oxide emissions.

It was that incorrect figure which Greenpeace had used as a basis for their allegations this week.

A Greenpeace spokesman admitted the incorrect figures dramatically altered their original claims, but insisted the inaccuracy lay in the Department of Environment report.

He added: "This obviously changes the figures but it does not change our message that incinerators produce toxic chemicals and they should all be shut down."