ABNORMALLY high levels of deadly radon gas have been found on a Bodmin housing estate.

One frightened resident was shocked to discover her home on the Berryfields Estate had a radon reading four-and-a-half times higher than the government's recommended action level.

Irene McCulloch says she is now living in fear after discovering the two previous tenants of her bungalow at Carpenter's Court both died of cancer.

Radon is recognised as the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK after smoking.

The radon action level for a dwelling is 200 becquerels per cubic metre of air. Tests by North Cornwall District Council showed Mrs McCulloch's bungalow had a reading of almost 900 becquerels.

The local authority has now installed a large external fan to reduce the level in her home.

The council yesterday confirmed that in recent testings, 300 of its tenanted properties in the district were found to be above the radon action level.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep out of the ground and build up in the home.

It comes from uranium which occurs naturally in many rocks and soils, and is especially prevalent in granite.

Mrs McCulloch said yesterday: "A lot of people don't realise how dangerous radon is.

"A neighbour told me a couple who lived nearby both died of lung cancer after living there for 26 years. The last person to live in my house also died of cancer and so did the previous tenant.

"I was absolutely shocked by the radon reading and now I'm frightened to death for me and my son.''

She moved into the property last August and believes she should have been warned by the district council about potential radon levels.

"I've already spoken to a solicitor and I'm considering taking legal action. I'm at risk living here, and I'm sure other people on the estate are too, but they don't realise it,'' Mrs McCulloch said.

Stuart Blackie, NCDC's head of housing services, said radon was prevalent across the county, and in order to meet the government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010, properties have been tested in the most affected areas.

"Radon detectors were sent to more than 2,000 of our tenants, and the results of this survey have indicated that improvement work will be required to approximately 15% of these homes.

"Remedial work is scheduled for all the properties identified, and we anticipate that this will be completed during the next 18 months.''