Environmental health officers in Great Yarmouth are asking the public’s assistance to help track-down people who have dumped dangerous asbestos waste in villages near the town.

Loose and bagged waste has been found in hedgerows and farm tracks in five locations around Thurne, Ashby and Repps.

Although some of the bagged material is in the correct pink disposal bags, help from the Health and Safety Executive identifying code numbers on the bags has not helped pin down the culprits.

“We think the waste was dumped overnight on July 27,” said Senior Environmental Health Officer, Glenn Buck. “The distinctive pink disposal bags are only issued to specialist contracts, so we are concerned as to how someone else has obtained them.

“This waste has the potential to be harmful to people coming into contact with it, so we need to stop this kind of thing happening again.

“Please will anyone who saw anything on that night contact us. The amount of waste would have necessitated the use of a van or trailer.

“Alternatively, if anyone has had work done lately which involved the removal of material which was painted cream on one side we would also like to hear from them.”

The Environmental Health Pollution Team can be contacted on 01493 846413.