'Climategate' university orders review

The British university embroiled in an email row has ordered a review of its climate researchers' work after accusations they distorted or hid evidence to support the case for human-induced global warming.

The University of East Anglia says external investigators will check papers published by its Climatic Research Unit, one of the world's leading sources of data on changing temperatures.

The centre, which has contributed to UN climate reports, is already under investigation after hackers broke into its computer network and stole emails that critics cite as evidence that climate scientists manipulated, suppressed and hyped climate data.

More than 1000 leaked emails were put on the internet last November, leading to a police investigation into who stole them and doubts about climate science's accuracy and reliability.

Britain's most senior climate scientists say the row has dented public confidence in the evidence that underpins human's role in raising global temperatures to dangerous levels.

"It is in the interests of all concerned that there should be an additional assessment considering the science itself," says Professor Trevor Davies, the university's pro-vice chancellor for research.