North Tyneside Schools Reopen After Asbestos Tests Return Negative

Four schools in North Tyneside reopened after testing for asbestos in play sand returned negative results, the local council confirmed. The schools closed last week after the government reported that some sand products sold in the UK contained asbestos. All four schools received clearance and resumed normal operations.

Lodge in North Tyneside closed one classroom on Monday after a positive test result. The room reopened on Tuesday after specialist cleaning. Woodlawn School in Whitley Bay, Silverdale School in Wallsend, and Beacon Hill School in Wallsend were also closed for testing and have since reopened.

Council's director of children's services, Rebecca Wall, said schools should keep play sand covered and check brands against the published recall list on the Office for Product Safety and Standards website. "Further investigations are now taking place and these are being led by the Health and Safety Executive and the Office for Product Safety and Standards, as this is a national consumer issue," Wall said.

She previously stated that exposure to the sand would have posed a low-level risk to children who played with it.