More school sand samples sent for asbestos testing
Getty ImagesMore samples of a school's play sand have been sent for asbestos testing, a council has said.
Four schools in North Tyneside closed this week after the government said it was aware some products sold in the UK contained "sand contaminated with asbestos".
Three schools have since reopened – two following negative asbestos results and one after specialist cleaning. But North Tyneside children's services director Rebecca Wall said testing done at Beacon Hill School in Wallsend had so far led to mixed results so more testing was needed.
She said results were expected "on or around Sunday" and the school would remain shut as a "precautionary measure".
The national product recall involving certain types of play sand, which can be found for example in outdoor sandboxes.
Beacon Hill School had a high quantity of this sand for sensory and therapeutic activities, Wall said.
She previously said: "The advice is really clear, it is a low-level risk to children.
"The fact it is sand has made this a little bit more concerning, but it is proportionate to how much time their children might be playing in sand."
