RESIDENTS living in Darwen’s Anchor Estate are being reassured over asbestos fears during rewiring work.

Twin Valley Homes, which owns houses and flats in the area, say the risk of being affected by white asbestos that may be in ceilings and could be disturbed by drilling, was ‘very low’.

Seventy-year-old Brenda Lawless, who is housebound because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said she was concerned for the health of her grandchildren who visit her ground floor flat.

Asbestos has been used in buildings because of its resistance to heat, electricity and sound.

Exposure to dust particles can lead to lung disease and cancer.

But Kevin Ruth, Twin Valley Homes’ executive director, said: “The only place it would be present is in the artex ceiling and this type of ceiling may not actually contain asbestos – if it did it would only be a trace amount.

"But as a precautionary measure, we try to avoid drilling into artex ceilings where we can by using cornice trunking fixed to the walls.”

He added that where drilling was necessary, it would be done according to strict guidelines.

Tests will be carried out afterwards to check for the presence of asbestos.