ALMOST every school in Hampshire has deadly asbestos in its buildings, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A shocking 97 per cent of schools operated by Hampshire County Council and 83 per cent in Southampton contain the cancer causing material.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo under the Freedom of Information Act show that 576 of 605 schools are affected. That means more than nine in ten schools have asbestos.

It lurks behind walls, underneath floors and above ceilings in a variety of classrooms, staff rooms, toilets, store rooms and heating systems.

Council chiefs have stressed that it should not present a risk to staff and pupils as all cases of asbestos are being successfully contained.

They say every school had been individually risk assessed and that all the necessary safety measures are being taken.

Yet one leading teaching union says children’s lives are at risk until all asbestos is removed from schools.

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