ABANDONED Weston village is slowly coming back to life, 12 months after it was torn apart by a toxic gas scare.

Families in 200 homes fled when ICI discovered the chemical waste product hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) had seeped into some properties beside Weston quarry, a former chemical dump.

ICI this week pledged to rebuild the local community after international experts from all over the world gave the vast majority of the village the all-clear.

An extensive investigation of the geology and vapour transport within the rock, together with air-monitoring and borehole tests, have concluded it is now safe for residents to return.

Only 22 properties built on quarry rubble on the western edge of the Weston quarry and the Scout hut, remain contaminated.

Twelve families have already moved into rented homes as ICI plans to let all 200 properties they bought during the evacuation.

This week, the World spoke exclusively to one family who returned and to a couple who declined to leave.

Grandparents Joan and Alan Griffiths moved into Weston as newly-weds.

The village has been their home for 38 years - and, despite the toxic gas scare, they were determined to stay.

"We've built our home and our life here," said Joan. "We were the first people to move into the close. Nearly all the houses here have remained in the same families since we came."

Residents in 200 of the village's 470 homes fled when ICI offered to buy properties.

"For those of us who didn't want to go, it's been quite awful," said Joan.

"It has been like a bereavement to see people we've known all our married lives go. It has been very distressing seeing all the removal vans."

Joan and Alan are now preparing an information pack to welcome newcomers to Weston.

Said Alan: "It will have simple details about doctors, chemists and local amenities.

"Weston is a really good place to live and people who come here will be made very welcome. It is a nice quiet little village with a lovely atmosphere."

JP Alan says it is a very safe place to live with hardly any crime.

"The statistics for crime are very low. I am on the magistrates' bench and very rarely see people from Weston. It is a really caring community."

They are determined to keep Weston alive.

Said Joan: "It is an ancient village, it would be a shame for it to die.

"My husband's family goes back generations. One of his forebears is reputed to be the keeper of the marsh in the 17th century.

"We are hopeful the village will come back to life."

Meanwhile, a warm welcome awaited Paul Jackson when he moved back to Weston village last month.

His parents, Geoff and Carol, used to run The Royal Oak pub.

Paul is delighted to have returned to his roots - with his new family.

His partner, NIcola and children, Joshua, eight and Emma, 12, are enjoying every minute of village life.

Said Sheffield-born Nicola: "Weston is a very nice place to live. We love it.

"The house is ideal with a lovely big garden."

Civil servant Paul moved to Sheffield when his job was transferred.

He decided to emigrate to Malta with Nicola and the children but returned to England when it didn't work out.

"We have all been made to feel very welcome in Weston," said Nicola. "A lot of residents were really pleased to see Paul back."

She has nothing but praise for the local amenities.

"Weston county primary school is excellent. Joshua is dyslexic but has come on in leaps and bounds in their special unit. Emma is really setted at The Heath. They have friends to stay at the weekend."

Nicola, a mobile nail technician, hopes to set up a business in the village.

Once Paul finds a job, they are looking forward to making Weston their permanent home.

"ICI has reassured us there is nothing to worry about," she said. "We chose this house with plans to buy it. It's lovely to see horses riding past the window. After living in a big city, this village is really quiet and safe. It is ideal for families."