COUNCILLORS have approved a programme to minimise the potential health risk posed by asbestos in school buildings.

Durham County Council says it is 'grasping the nettle' and by-passing a legal grey area by drawing up asbestos management plans.

Asbestos was commonly used in public buildings - particularly for pipe lagging - and is safe as long as it is not broken up, releasing potentially lethal fibres into the air.

The management plans will identify asbestos in 161 council-controlled schools - 100 have already been surveyed - so that fibres do not escape if building work or repairs are carried out.

The council's cabinet agreed the move even though the law is unclear whether it or the schools themselves are responsible for surveys.

The council set up an asbestos management unit three years ago to survey all its buildings, including offices, libraries and OAP homes, and has spent more than £5m - the bulk of it on asbestos removal.

The programme will cost £50,000 in the current financial year alone and Neil Foster, lead cabinet member for education, said the council was giving the problem high priority.

The Labour-run authority has been accused of 'dragging its feet' over school surveys despite the work completed so far.

Coun Foster said: "Schools which have not been surveyed will have little idea of the level of asbestos in their premises and there is the potential that even very minor works could result in the material being disturbed.''

The surveys would provide a 'clear picture' so that 'potential risks can be minimised or avoided'.

The council maintains there is 'little evidence' that schools have addressed asbestos problems using delegated money earmarked for health and safety.

The Government plans to make preparation of asbestos management plans are statutory requirement.

The council says it regularly briefs school staff on asbestos issues.