'Potentially hazardous' rubbish dumped with washing machine and office chair in street

Council investigators are now studying evidence gathered at the scene (Image: Sefton council)

Potentially hazardous asbestos was dumped in the middle of a Sefton street. A recent inspection of fly-tipped material reported to Sefton Council revealed the discarded rubbish contained asbestos - naturally occurring toxic minerals known to cause lung cancer and asbestosis (serious scarring of the lungs).

A Sefton Council spokesman said: "When the Council’s street cleansing followed on the reported fly-tipping they discovered a washing machine and an office chair. But they also found potentially hazardous asbestos materials among the items, which had been dumped in the street.

"As a result, the Council had to requested its specialist contractor to remove the items before completing a clean