A Darlington pensioner was left fearing for her safety after council workmen put asbestos warning stickers on her airing cupboard.

Rosemary Smurthwaite, 72, was visited by inspectors who found the material in the doors.

She says she was then told not to use the cupboard, which is used to store towels and bedding, after workmen treated the doors and put warning stickers on them.

But Darlington Borough Council says there has been a misunderstanding and the stickers are only a precaution.

Mrs Smurthwaite, who has lived in Caldwell Green for 30 years, said: "I got a letter saying I was due a heating system inspection, and the next thing I knew they had placed warning stickers on the cupboard doors saying I couldn't put anything in there, because of the asbestos.

"Now I'm getting scared to even go near the cupboard because they tell you to keep the doors closed tight at all times."

Council spokesman Steve Jones said: "There is obviously a misunderstanding and the procedure has not been explained properly to Mrs Smurthwaite.

"The doors in their present state do not constitute a risk to health and safety.

"If they were in a poor state we would remove them to ensure there is no escape of asbestos fibres.

"In this case, we have used a paint to seal the doors to make them safe. The stickers are there as a warning to ensure that in the future there is no damage to the doors and the fibres do not get into the atmosphere."

Darlington council is currently carrying out asbestos checks on more than 1,000 council homes in the borough in accordance with health and safety guidelines, and says it is taking steps to remove the material where necessary.

Asbestos was widely used as an insulating material in houses and buildings until the 1980s