The Health and Safety Executive is investigating claims a council didn't remove deadly asbestos correctly.

It was suggested that Lydd Town Council had an untrained person to handle the deadly material, did not have a risk assessment and that some of the material was wrongly taken to a household recycling centre.

The allegations involve removing corrugated roofing with asbestos from a demolished old shed at The Banks Sports and Social Club in Dennes Lane.

A handyman for Lydd council removed the roofing material last November and it was initially damped down for safety, sealed and stored in a garage.

A letter from Stephen Courts, Shepway District Council principal environmental health officer, says the matter has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr Courts said the task should have been subject to a risk assessment by a competent person and a method statement should have been produced to minimise risks.

Mr Courts acknowledged that later the removal of the asbestos from the site was carried out correctly by a licensed company.

It was taken to an authorised commercial disposal site.

Some small pieces that remained afterwards were disposed of safely within an asbestos skip but should not have been instead taken to a household recycling centre.

Mr Courts’ message said: “As we are not the regulatory authority for such health and safety matters, concerns about the methods employed in the removal and transportation of the material and the duty of care of Lydd Town Council has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive for investigation.’’