A warning of an asbestos outbreak near to homes was issued by West Dunbartonshire Council chiefs last week.

The cancer-causing substance was discovered by contractors on the former grounds of the demolished St Eunan’s Primary School last Wednesday.

The council alerted the press and also spread the word via social media — however many residents living in the area are furious they were not notified immediately in person or by letter.

Concerns have also been raised that the contaminated zone is still being used as a right-of-way by children.

Shocked John McLean lives near to the site and has demanded more information is shared with residents.

He said: “I speak for a number of neighbours whose houses are on the boundary of the site — it would not have been a difficult task for the council to notify us of the danger of the asbestos report.

“All the council has done is put up a number of posters telling people to keep out. The council has failed to repair the wall which is used as a shortcut by kids.” Civil servant Lorraine Hill, 50, who lives on Montrose Street, said: “I’m furious that I had to find out about an asbestos contamination on my doorstep through online news,” she said. “Why could they not come and tell us? Or send us a letter sooner? This is just yards from my back garden.” Warning signs, which read “keep out, contaminated ground,” were put in place at the former St Eunan’s site last Wednesday.

However, council chiefs insist they do not know where the asbestos has come from and are investigating as a matter of urgency.

A council spokesman said: “The council would like to apologise to any resident who feels they have not been communicated with on this issue. The council’s priority on Wednesday, following the discovery of the asbestos, was to erect warning signs on the site to deter people from entering and alert the local and regional media to pass this information on to the general public.

“Although the properties in the vicinity of the site were not at risk we were keen to keep their owners informed and a letter was issued to all on the Friday.” *** WORRIED residents are demanding that more warning signs are put in place at a Clydebank site contaminated with asbestos.

West Dunbartonshire Council erected three “keep out, contaminated ground” notices last Wednesday on land at the former St Eunan’s Primary after the discovery of the deadly substance.

The huge plot is regularly used as a shortcut by people heading towards the shopping centre and is bordered by people living in Melfort Avenue, Melfort Crescent, Montrose Street and Clarence Street.

Householders insist that more needs to be done by get the important safety message across to children and adults.

Self-employed joiner James Roberts, 38, lives on Melfort Avenue and is concerned about the number of kids taking shortcuts through the site.

The father-of-two said: “I’d like to see the place more secure and with more signs — there are just three up at the moment, and it’s got a huge perimetre.

“Usually, the kids from the high school come down and scale the fence on their way to McDonalds at lunch time. Thankfully, there was someone there the other day to stop them — but there can’t be someone there all the time. There needs to be more warnings put up.” Phyllis Dudek, 60, who has been employed in the area for 14 years, said: “I’ve worked here a long time and have definitely seen a lot of people walking their dogs in the grass and kids inside it in the past.

“Usually you wouldn’t think anything of it, it’s a green area in there.” Vandals previously caused an asbestos scare when they broke into the former St Eunan’s Primary in 2011, months before it was demolished.

They stole copper pipes that were covered in asbestos lagging and to remove this they struck the pipes against trees, headstones and a wall between the school and Kilbowie Cemetery.

In the process this released dangerous asbestos fibres, which prompted the council and police to issue public warnings.

The council ordered an environmental clean-up of the area and contaminated soil, however resident Elizabeth Douglas fears the recent asbestos find is linked to the previous incident.

The 77-year-old said: “I’ve always suspected there was asbestos left from when the thieves were here. I believe they removed a lot of it from the copper piping at the school and left it there.

“It’s possible it went unnoticed during the demolition of the school and is now burried under the soil the council levelled the area out with post-demolition.” Council residents have told residents the asbestos poses a “minimum risk”.

However, if fibres of asbestos are inhaled they can cause various conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening.

A spokesman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “The council would like to apologise to any resident who feels they have not been communicated with on this issue. The council’s priority on Wednesday, following the discovery of the asbestos, was to erect warning signs on the site to deter people from entering and alert the local and regional media to pass this information on to the general public.

“Although the properties in the vicinity of the site were not at risk we were keen to keep their owners informed and a letter was issued to all on the Friday.

“Although the site was secured following the demolition of the school in 2012, the fence has been forced open on occasions and the grounds used as a short cut.

“Following this latest discovery, warning signs were erected and the site further secured. Ultimately there is nothing that can stop someone who is determined to gain illegal access to a site such as this, but the council is satisfied that it has done its duty to warn those individuals about their tresspassing.

“The origin of the asbestos remains unknown but the council is undertaking investigations to establish this as a matter of urgency.

“The risk to surrounding residents is considered minimal, however, we would advise that local residents should not attempt to access the site and would appreciate their support in this matter.”