THE number of buildings containing asbestos has been described by some as a “ticking timebomb”.

Whilst the material, commmonly used in the building industry for decades, is perfectly safe when it is in good condition, it can be hazardous when disturbed or damaged.

In the worst cases, if breathed in, particles can lead to a potentially fatal form of cancer, mesothelioma, which attacks the lungs.

That is why teaching unions are calling for the substance to be removed from all schools, saying the action is needed because it is the only “safe policy”.

However with more than 250 schools containing the substance in East Lancashire alone, the cost of carrying out removal work will almost certainly be in the tens of millions.

In the meantime councils have been working to ensure no one is at risk from asbestos – and the expert advice is to leave it alone if it is undisturbed.

Under Government requirements, each local authority has had to carry out a detailed investigations to find out exactly where the asbestos is so regular checks can be carried out.

A risk assessment is also done to decide whether removal is justified.

Hopefully these measures will ensure people using any buildings containing asbestos are safe – and as buildings are replaced, through schemes like Building Schools for the Future, it will gradually become less and less of a problem.