RESIDENTS concerned about asbestos roofing on garages near a children's play area have been reassured that they are safe by housing officials.

Last week residents who attended a meeting with representatives of Middlewich Vision and Congleton Borough Council voiced concerns about the safety of the garages situated behind Booth Lane play area.

Caroline O'Brien, from Middlewich Vision, said residents were worried about the potential health hazards especially as the garages are situated so near to where children regularly congregate.

But a spokeswoman for Dane Housing, the housing association that owns the garages, said inspectors had visited the site and had declared the building safe.

She said: "The actual roof sheeting is cement bound, low risk asbestos. It is in very good condition and Dane Housing is advised by the Government's Health and Safety Executive to leave all such buildings in situe because the actual removal of them would pose a far greater risk."