The owner of a demolition company has been handed a suspended sentence for failing to appropriately manage the removal of asbestos during demolition works

The first Government regulations highlighting the potential dangers were published in 1932, although public awareness then became apparent throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

British asbestos regulation is so inadequate that a child can legally be exposed to 10 times as much of the toxic material as they would be in countries such as Germany, a report has warned.

Six million tonnes of asbestos are still inside 1.5million buildings in the UK including hospitals and eight out of 10 schools, according to a report.