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Get deadly asbestos out of our schools, says NUT

THE government was called on yesterday to remove deadly asbestos from Britain’s schools and colleges on national Mesothelioma Day.

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer of the lining of the lung caused by inhaling minute asbestos particles.

It can take 50 years to be revealed, and death usually occurs within two years of diagnosis.

On Sunday another teacher tragically died of mesothelioma.

Sue Stephens was a primary school teacher in Buckinghamshire for almost 30 years. Her daughter Lucie Stephens is calling for the removal of asbestos from schools to be her legacy.

Around 86 per cent of schools contain asbestos and deaths from mesothelioma are increasing. In 2013, 17 teachers died of mesothelioma.

Pupils are also at risk.

National Union of Teachers general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “The government must now set out a long-term strategy for the phased removal of asbestos from all schools.”

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