Parents said their children would become guinea pigs if a controversial scheme to build a dump 65ft from a school gets the go-ahead.

They directed their anger at David Hawker, Brighton and Hove City Council's director of schools, demanding to know how children's health would be affected by the plans for a waste plant in Hollingdean Lane, Brighton.

Amanda Newins, of St Andrew's Road, Brighton, who has a four-year-old at Downs Infant School in Ditchling Road, Brighton, said: "You are using our children as guinea pigs. My daughter has another two and a half years to go at that school. This isn't good enough."

Some parents almost broke down as they asked how they could protect their children. Others asked if there was a contingency plan in case the plant caught fire, releasing toxic gases into the air.

Last week the school had to close all the doors and windows when arsonists set light to the asbestos-ridden old meat market in Hollingdean Lane.

Mr told last night's meeting of parents and residents at the school he would listen to parents' concerns and read a 29-page document by Dump the Dump, the group fighting the proposals.

A revised planning application for a materials recovery facility and waste transfer station , which would deal with 160,000 tons of waste each year, was submitted by Veolia Environmental Services in March and will be considered by the planning committee on June 19.

Ed Start, who led the meeting, said: "When the first inhabitants of Brighton lived in Whitehawk they used to dig holes and put their rubbish in them. There is nothing new in Veolia's plans."