A Wilmslow company has been fined £6,000 after pleading guilty to three offences of failing to manage asbestos.

Macclesfield Borough Council brought the prosecution against Freedom Finance at Macclesfield Magistrates Court.

An employee of the company, based at Brook House, Church Road, complained in June 2007 to the Council that he might have been exposed to damaged asbestos while at work.

It happened after an insurance company survey found the substance in the boiler room and lift motor room at Brook House.

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The Court heard that Freedom Finance had arranged for the asbestos surveys to be carried out in April and June 2007, some three years later than it should have done, following a request from their insurers.

A subsequent investigation by Macclesfield Borough Council found that a number of employees had been exposed to asbestos.

Freedom Finance pleaded guilty to three offences and were fined although the severity was reduced owing to an early guilty plea.

Elizabeth Fountaine, Environmental Health Officer, said: "Freedom Finance was identified by the Council as a duty holder in respect of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

"The case should send out a warning to employers that they will be prosecuted if they don't take the issue of asbestos seriously. Breathing in air containing asbestos dust can lead to asbestos-related diseases.

"These are mainly cancers of the chest and lungs and are currently killing an estimated 3000 people a year in Great Britain."

(CD)