HIGHLY hazardous asbestos can be found in more than 50 Borders schools, according to new figures.

The once popular building material, which can cause lethal lung diseases, was outlawed during the 1980s and 1990s in the UK.

But it remains prominent in many old buildings.

Health professionals believe asbestos only becomes harmful if it is damaged and releases fibres into the air.

Although asbestos can still be found in six secondary schools - Galashiels Academy, Selkirk High, Peebles High, Hawick High, Jedburgh Grammar and the old Kelso High - and a total of 49 primaries, authorities have no large scale plans for removal.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “As per Health and Safety Executive recommendations, asbestos should not be removed unless it is in poor condition or likely to be disturbed due to works.

“As a result, SBC follows this recommendation with regards to the removal of asbestos.”

Of Borders schools which are found to have the banned building material, more than half (51 per cent) contain the most hazardous brown asbestos, amosite, and 11 per cent contain blue asbestos, crocidolite.

Both crocidolite and amosite were banned from the UK in 1985 with the more common, and less harmful, chrystolite also being banned in 1999.