Asbestos discovery sparks dwelling evacuation

A number of families have been evacuated from a street in Inverkeithing following the discovery of asbestos, it has emerged.

According to reports by the Tayside and Fife Courier, the families have been removed from two blocks of flats as a result of the discovery and relocated nearby.

Three of the residents required assistance from emergency services to leave their homes.

"As soon as we were made aware that asbestos had been discovered, we engaged with emergency services to ensure all 11 households were safely removed from their properties and taken to nearby hotels while investigations continued," said Derek Muir, head of the housing department at Fife Council.

As well as the discovery of asbestos in a number of different flats - common areas are known to be affected - the substance was also discovered in stairwells.

Although now known to pose a risk to human health, asbestos has been a popular material because of a range of qualities, including heat resistance and its ability to absorb sound.

Find out more about Asbestos.