With the exception of a small number of recently-built schools, the majority of those in the borough – primary, secondary and special – contain asbestos.

Asbestos was extensively used as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s.

Earlier this year, union chiefs called for more to be done to safeguard teachers and pupils, after revelations that 88 per cent per cent of the borough's 69 schools have been found to have traces of the potentially fatal building material.

The figures, gathered under the Freedom of Information Act, show asbestos is present in 92 per cent of South Tyneside's primary schools, 89 per cent of secondary schools, 80 per cent of special schools, and half of nursery schools.

All materials containing asbestos are hazardous, although they only pose a risk to health if they are released into the air and breathed in.
Since 2004, the removal of higher-risk asbestos has been carried out at 30 South Tyneside schools.

A report to the council's children and young people select committee revealed that the work involved the cleaning of material from boiler rooms, floors and ceiling voids.

The council also puts aside £200,000 a year for the removal of high-risk asbestos.

The report added: "All schools hold an asbestos register, which contains details of all locations of asbestos-containing material within the premises.

"An independent audit of the council's asbestos management was carried out in March this year.

"Of the six areas addressed, four were fully compliant and two scored well and are being improved."