RADIO York presenter Julia Booth is one of thousands of women hit by a health scare over breast implants filled with soya bean oil.

Julia, 43, of Heworth, had a double mastectomy in 1997 after discovering she had inherited a defective gene giving her a 90 per cent chance of developing breast cancer.

Afterwards, she underwent reconstructive surgery using a soya-based material for the implants.

Five thousand women have been given such implants but yesterday the Government advised that they should be removed amid fears that they could cause cancer and harm unborn babies.

The Department of Health said the risk that the implants, which were available from 1995 until they were withdrawn from sale in March 1999, could cause cancer or harm an unborn baby could not be ruled out.

Patient support groups said the women had been used as "guinea pigs" for the Trilucent implants, which did not undergo any clinical trials before being put on the market in the UK.

Julia, a married mother of three, spoke of her anger that the materials appeared not to have been tested before use.

"I think it's outrageous that we were used as guinea pigs. Apparently, implants are not subject to the same clinical trials that drugs are."

She said she had decided to choose the soya instead of silicone because of the problems other people had suffered with silicone.

Dr Pat Troop, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said there had been no clinical evidence of any serious health problems, although 70 women had reported swelling and discomfort.

"Although this is a major step for us to take, it is a precautionary one," she said.

"The latest scientific data shows that this type of implant could be harmful, but, as yet, there is no evidence of actual harm to women."

Toxicology expert Professor Kevin Chipman said the products caused by the breakdown of the soya bean oil when the implants leaked or burst could potentially cause cancer.

The implants were manufactured by Lipomatrix Inc.