7:14am UK, Sunday November 26, 2006

Customers at a restaurant and an hotel visited by a poisoned ex-KGB officer will be tested for the radioactive substance that killed him.

180 spy Alexander Litvinenko Anna Politkovskaya

Mr Litvinenko fell ill after going to a sushi bar

The appeal follows the death of Alexander Litvinenko, who was infected with radioactive Polonium 210.

Traces of radiation have since been found at his north London home as well as the Itsu sushi bar, Piccadilly, and the Millennium hotel's Pine Bar, Grosvenor Square.

Police have completed their examination of the restaurant and arrangements are now being made for the premises to be decontaminated.

The Health Protection Agency says the risk of contamination is low.

But it wants anyone who visited either premises on November 1 - the same day as Mr Litvinenko - to call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Urine tests will be offered to those who fear they may have come into contact with the former spy.

Mr Litvinenko, who accused President Vladimir Putin of having him killed, died from a massive dose of alpha radiation.

Polonium 210 was detected in his urine, apparently just a few hours prior to his death in University College Hospital, on Thursday night.

Mr Putin has claimed that Alexander Litvenko's death is being used to provoke his country.

Scotland Yard's counter terrorism unit is investigating the poisoning and has appealed for help from the Kremlin.

Mr Litvinenko's body has been moved from University College Hospital to a London mortuary.