EXPERTS are warning residents on a Slade Green housing estate not to dig up their gardens over fears they contain potentially harmful asbestos.

Bexley council confirmed this week that materials found on the Wallhouse Road estate are asbestos.

Tests began in August last year when a resident started to dig up their back garden on Jenningtree Road.

Specialist consultants are so far unable to confirm what risk, if any, exists to residents.

It is unclear where the solid asbestos has come from, but leading UK asbestos producer Turner & Newall stood less than a mile away in Slade Green before it closed some 25 years ago. The Wallhouse Road estate was built in the 1950s.

John Deadman, 71, used to work for asbestos company Turners and now lives on Wallhouse Road. He worked for four years at the plant and wore masks and overalls to spray metal sheets with asbestos.

He said: "When I worked for them at Manor Road you had powder all over the place but you could never let anything out of there. I’m not worried about it. I’ve never known them bury asbestos here.

"I’ve been here all my life. We do get small pieces of asbestos here but they’re small pieces and it’s not dangerous unless it’s dried. I pick up a piece in the garden now and again, I don’t find much."

Bexley council have sent a letter to all residents advising them specialist consultants will take soil and dust samples. All residents will be kept informed of progress.

A spokesman said: "As a precaution, the council’s environmental health service continues to recommend that people do not dig over their garden and disturb any materials containing asbestos that may be present within garden areas. A well-established covering of grass or vegetation is likely to provide adequate protection."

Anyone wanting to have their garden checked for asbestos can call the council on 020 8303 7777.