Residents to be moved after asbestos find

Asbestos was found in the insulation

About 100 people will have to leave their homes in Blackburn while they are refurbished after asbestos was found in the insulation.

Workers carrying out repairs at the Delph Lane Estate discovered white powder in one of the buildings.

Twin Valley Homes, the housing association which owns the properties carried out further checks and discovered all the homes would have to have the insulation replaced.

The work will cost about £3m.

'Risk minimal'

The homes were built in 1969 were sold to Twin Valley in 2001 by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Twin Valley's chief Phil Richards said the health risks were minimal, and added residents were being regularly updated on the situation.

"We have had several meetings with our residents and have been keeping them fully informed," he said.

"We have also been making sure to keep owner occupiers who bought their home from the council informed of what we will be doing."

He added there was going to be a public meeting to inform residents of the latest developments.