A NEW survey of teachers has revealed that almost half have not been told whether their school contains asbestos.

The National Union of Teachers carried out the country-wide poll last month and showed that 44 per cent of those asked were unaware that their school contained the hazardous substances.

It comes after figures from Lancashire County Council revealed that 186 of the region’s schools contain the harmful building material that was banned from being used in the UK in 1999.

Burnley has 42 schools which house the substance, which compares with 38 each in Hyndburn and Pendle, 35 in Rossendale, 22 in the Ribble Valley and 11 in Blackburn.

Lancashire-wide at least 570 of the county’s 617 schools contain asbestos.

The NUT survey also revealed that 15 per cent of teachers who were aware that their school contained asbestos had seen a copy of the school’s asbestos management plan and 99 per cent of respondents agreed that there should be a long-term government strategy for the removal of asbestos from all schools.

Eighty per cent said that parents had not been given information about the presence of asbestos and its management.

Simon Jones, who represents the NUT in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, said: "The dangers of asbestos in schools are obvious.

"The failure to assess risk, the slow responses and a lack of knowledge and awareness are major factors, and as this survey shows, what is needed to truly address the problem is a concerted effort on a national scale.

"In the run up to the general election, it is vital that the issue of asbestos is on the agenda.

David Morris, chairman of Pendle Primary School in Clitheroe and former chief executive of Ribble Valley Borough Council, said: "We have had issues with asbestos in the past at Pendle but nothing catastrophic by any stretch of the imagination.

"We discovered some when we took the stage out but it was disposed of and there was no health risk.

"I would be very concerned if teachers did not know about the situation at the school.

"We have a lot of help in terms of health and safety from Lancashire County Council."