Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the UK construction industry between the 1950s and the mid-1980s. It was valued for its strength, durability, insulating properties and resistance to fire, and was used in everything from roofing tiles and insulation boards to cement pipes and clothing.

However, it was later discovered that exposure to asbestos fibres can cause serious, even fatal diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, but many homes and buildings still contain asbestos materials, especially those built before the 1980s.