Doombeach

When his mother becomes pregnant, their social worker prescribes a seaside holiday in care for 12-year-old Gavin (Jeremy Coaster), while his mother stays with her sister.

It is still summer term, so the only holidays Gavin enjoys are when truanting from the junior school to which an administrative error has sent him. His only school friend is eight-year-old Terri (Donna Tribe), tomboy leader of the local "mafia", who claims Gavin as her boyfriend, much to his disgust.

After swimming at the beach one day, Mark, a young member of the gang, develops paralysis – and while the adults diagnose natural causes, Gavin, who has "done conservation" at school, suspects pollution.

With the help of Miss Ricketts (Glenda Jackson), one of the more caring teachers, the children realise that accidental leakage from the nearby nuclear power station could be a factor. A suspicion compounded by the discovery of a diseased fish washed ashore.

When Mark dies, the kids know they must prove that the power station has something to hide. Aided by Miss Ricketts, who has been sacked from her post, they prepare to visit the area with a Geiger counter...