Workmen currently carrying out improvements to homes across the borough have been ordered to down tools for 48 hours while checks are carried out to make sure health and safety procedures designed to deal with the substance are being carried out.

It is believed the action which was taken yesterday was a precautionary measure in case asbestos was discovered again.

Earlier this month 34 people returned to their homes in The Crescent, Woodlands, three weeks after they were evacuated when asbestos was found by builders carrying out improvements as part of the Decent Homes programme, which started last year.

Also this month 36 flats in Askern House and Treeton House, on Balby's St James estate, were evacuated after traces of the substance were uncovered.

Areas affected by the latest action include Edenthorpe, Armthorpe, Balby, Bentley and Cantley.

Paul Hart, Doncaster Council's managing director and Martin Musgrave, chief executive of St Leger Homes - the body responsible for more than 20,000 of the authority's homes - released a statement confirming work had stopped for two days.

The pair said the safety of residents was their "paramount concern" following the discovery of asbestos in homes that have undergone renovation.

* For more on this story and more reaction see Thursday's Free Press