IT killed thousands across the globe before scientists even knew it existed, and 20 years ago Clydebank was named the British capital for the deadly substance asbestos.

But two decades on, campaigners and local leaders alike fear the town may still be in the grips of the toxic matter which can wait years before manifesting its nasty symptoms in its many victims.

Back in 1996, residents were warned of a plague following the disturbing figures released by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, which revealed the region’s death rate from incurable asbestos poisoning hit 212 per million people – 11 times greater than the national average that year – prompting immediate calls for a government investigation by then MP Tony Worthington.

Clydebank was also revealed to have had the highest death rate from mesothelioma – a crippling killer tumour which spreads and crushes its victims’ lungs caused by the substance – across the whole of the UK from 1976 to 1991.

Its effects are likely to continue for years to come as there is no way of knowing when it will end, according to Bob Dickie, chairman of the Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG).

He said: “Nobody knows when the asbestos will peak or when it will decline. It’s an ongoing thing, unfortunately.

“We’re more fortunate now because we safeguard against it and people know about it. When we were set up, people didn’t know much about it.”

Last year, a memorial was erected to honour those who had fallen victim to the seemingly harmless substance, which was described as “snow-like” in appearance.

It was funded by CAG, whose secretary Hope Robertson lost her husband to the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma at the age of 59. Speaking to The Post at the time, she said: “We won’t be able to say ‘it’s over’ in my lifetime or my daughter’s lifetime but perhaps it might finally happen in my grandchildren’s lifetime.

“The frightening thing is that people are being diagnosed younger than before, and the idea that it is all gone and in the past is wrong.The bottom line is that nobody should have to go to work wondering if they’ll be going back home later and particularly with schemes involving young people, there’s a need to ensure safety standards are strongly upheld.”

The shipyards may be all but a memory but the lethal material it worked with – asbestos – could still be very much alive, as figures also predicted there could be as many as 10,000 deaths in Britain annually from the substance in 2025.

It’s a frightening statistic for anyone who may have come into contact with the material and those who continue to campaign on their behalf, including Provost Douglas McAllister, who has fought alongside victims and their family members for justice.

He added: “Medical experts claim that the incubation period for the disease, after the exposure, can be anything up to 35 years, so I am afraid that it is likely that Clydebank will continue to suffer the effects of this dreadful illness for many years to come.

“I hope that we are now protecting our workers here in the Clydeside and across our country better than we did even just a generation ago.

“However, it is absolutely scandalous that the victims and their families continue to face resistance from the very powerful insurance companies responsible for accepting liability and compensating those involved.

“I am not convinced that over the last 20 years our justice system has done enough, particularly here in Scotland, to make access to justice for the victims easier, to make the process simpler, and to make the declaims and payouts fairer.”

It is hoped the work of CAG has helped to highlight the plight of those workers – both those who are still battling and those who were defeated but never forgotten.

Provost McAllister added: “Clydebank’s unwanted legacy at least drew attention to the plight of thousands of suffering families and hopefully, as a result, we in Clydebank very quickly learned the lessons to prevent any more of our population being exposed to the risk of this disease in our area. It became apparent over the last 20 years that asbestos remained in many of our buildings, our homes, and our schools and as a local authority over the years we embarked on removing and safely containing asbestos and educating our population to the dangers and risk involved.

“A lot of great work was undertaken by the Clydebank Asbestos Group, a volunteer organisation set up in 1992 to help provide support, advice and information for the victims of asbestos and their families. They have been fighting for truth and justice for the victims of asbestos ever since.”

Mr Dickie added: “We’re here to help warn people of the dangers about asbestos and help those affected seek justice.

“We’ll, hopefully, continue to do that until it goes away – if it ever does.”