Asbestos alert museum stays closed

Asbestos was found during renovation work at the museum

A Cumbria museum at the centre of an asbestos alert has still to hear when it can reopen.

The Haig Colliery Mining Museum in Whitehaven has been sealed off after tests revealed a mixture of white and brown asbestos was present in areas being renovated.

Health officials say the risk of serious disease is "very low".

But former volunteers and local doctors have been alerted to potential long-term risks of cancer.

Fresh samples

In a letter to volunteers, Dr Nigel Calvert, a consultant with the Cumbria and North Lancashire team of the Health Protection Agency, warned of possible health risks to volunteers who could have had long-term exposure to asbestos.

Fresh samples in public areas of the museum have been taken and are being analysed.

Copeland Borough Council is expected to make a decision on reopening to the public soon.

John Greasley, secretary of the museum's charitable trust, said: "We are hoping to get some news from the council on Thursday.

"Fresh air samples have been taken from the public areas of the museum and they seem to be all clear.

"We really do need to be open again very quickly."