SALISBURY STILL TOXIC
THE nerve agent used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal may still be present in toxic levels at nine hotspots around Salisbury.
Government scientists think a small amount of the deadly Novichok substance was used in liquid form to target the former agent, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33.
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Work is beginning to decontaminate nine locations across the city where experts think the substance could still be present.
Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs updated residents on the clean-up process on Thursday.
Defra's chief scientific adviser Ian Boyd said: "We have to make an assumption that in certain circumstances there will be relatively high concentrations, probably in very, very specific locations, which could be at levels that could be toxic to individuals.
"That's an assumption, it's also one we've tested in some circumstances and we do know that there are hotspots like that around, so we have to make those assumptions that some of the hotspots we've still got to find.
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BMW of Russian spy Sergei Skripal targeted in Salisbury nerve agent attack loaded onto container
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"But those hotspots will still be in the locations we are talking about.
"In these locations, there may well be higher concentrations that we still have to find, but we already know there are some high concentrations within those locations."
The meeting was held as work began to replace police cordons around the Maltings area in the city centre, the nearby Zizzi restaurant and the Mill pub with more robust hoardings.
Residents were told the Bourne Hill building, housing Salisbury's police station as well as Wiltshire council's offices will close for up to eight weeks from Friday.
Daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal is getting better after spending three weeks in critical condition following nerve agent attack
The decontamination work will focus on the evidence room and two lockers inside the station, which were sealed off after the March 4 attack.
Other areas earmarked for chemical cleaning include two ambulance stations, a car compound and the home of poisoned police officer Nick Bailey.
Mr Skripal's home, which is still part of the police investigation, will be the last to be decontaminated.
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The ex-KGB spy and his daughter Yulia, 33, were exposed to a nerve agent and fell gravely ill while out in Salisbury on Sunday, March 5.
They were found slumped on a bench in a "catatonic state" and anti-terror police are investigating how the poisoning was carried out.
Russia has denied that their special services were involved and a diplomatic spat is ongoing between the UK and the Russian Federation.
Police believe the pair were exposed to the nerve agent after it was left on the front door of his home.
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