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Last Updated: Thursday, 18 March, 2004, 07:20 GMT
Council opens asbestos hotline
Silverhill Primary School in Mickleover
The school will be closed for at least two weeks
A helpline is being opened for parents who want more information about the discovery of asbestos at a school.

Hundreds of children at Silverhill primary school in Derby may have breathed in dangerous asbestos dust during renovations.

The school in Mickleover has been closed for at least two weeks for specialist cleaning.

Derby City Council staff will operate the phone lines and answer online queries.

High levels of asbestos were found in the atmosphere following work to replace windows at the 400-pupil school.

Les Allen, cabinet member for learning, said the council is doing everything possible to pass on information to parents.

The hotline will start to take calls on Thursday afternoon, he said.

Simon Longley, the county's assistant director of education, said an internal investigation into the incident is under way.


SEE ALSO:
Asbestos alert closes city school
16 Mar 04  |  Derbyshire


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