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Most of the schools in East Sussex still contain asbestos, according to the BBC.

A programme for Inside Out South East claims 185 of the county's 195 schools carry the potentially hazardous material used in many buildings in postwar Britain.

Asbestos only poses a threat to health when it is exposed and starts to crumble. Inhaling toxic asbestos fibres can cause serious illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Every school should have a management plan, including a book showing where the asbestos is so it is not disturbed. East Sussex County Council said only schools built after January 1, 2000, can definitely be said not to contain any asbestos. Only ten schools in East Sussex are certainly unaffected, including Hoddern Junior School in Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs Community Primary School and Rye Primary School, which all opened after 2000. The National Union of Teachers has called for all asbestos to be removed.

Although the figures for West Sussex County Council's schools were not given in the programme, a spokesman said: "Between July 2005 and March 2008, we surveyed our complete property portfolio that contained asbestos materials.

"At a cost of £1.2 million it delivered management surveys, addressed priority findings and led to a management plan - £85,000 has been spent this year removing asbestos that has been identified through the inspection programme as having degraded such as to require removal."

Brighton and Hove City Council's spokesman said: "Asbestos surveys have been undertaken in all education buildings... in accordance with relevant legislation. All buildings have a designated duty holder responsible for the management of asbestos. A dedicated technical specialist has been appointed to assist in the management of asbestos."

Article by Emily-Ann Elliot from The Argus