Asbestos pub reopens in Liverpool

A pub in Liverpool that was closed down by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the discovery of asbestos in its basement kitchen has been given the green light to reopen.

The HSE shut down the Thomas Rigby's pub in the city centre after builders discovered asbestos after removing a stud wall and three false ceilings, the Publican reports.

Nick Rahman, the assistant manager of the pub, said everybody was looking forward to opening the restaurant again, now that the location is safe.

"The place got sealed up by the Health and Safety Executive and the council. We are just looking forward to re-opening and getting busy again," he told the site.

Asbestos was a commonly used substance in the construction industry during the 1970s and it can cause serious illness if it is inhaled.

Diseases such as asbestositis and pleural disease are caused by inhaling dust particles and it is estimated that around 3,000 people a year die from asbestos related lung diseases.

Asbestos is the single biggest cause of work-related deaths, according to the HSE.