Global warming has given Iceland an unexpected headache. Its roads - recently freed of much of their ice cover - are being ground to dust by cars fitted with studded winter tyres.

Plumes of asphalt are drifting across the island, raising cancer fears among health experts and environmentalists, while roads are breaking apart under the strain.

However, help is at hand. At Newcastle University's department of structural engineering, researchers are testing slabs of hardened concrete made from Icelandic rock to pinpoint the best material for rebuilding the roads.

'Our aim is simple: to find the best, longest-lasting type of material for constructing Iceland's roads,' said project leader Professor John Knapton. 'As the world gets warmer, the island is going to have to resurface its byways with much tougher stuff.'

Apart from Iceland, other Nordic countries, as well as Canada and Alaska, are likely to need new materials to rebuild their roads, he added.

Iceland will remain the main beneficiary. In recent years scientists have noticed a startling change in its climate as global warming has increased. Snowfall is less and ice sheets have retreated. The Breidamerkurjokull, which is Europe's biggest glacier, has started to disintegrate.

'By law, Icelandic drivers have to remove standard tyres from their cars in October, replace them with studded tyres, and use these right until April,' said Knapton. 'That was fine when they were running over roads with thick ice covering.

'But now drivers are travelling on byways that are ice-free for much of the year. They cannot keep changing their tyres, so they keep their studded ones on. As a result, they are churning Iceland's roads to bits.'