Families are fearing for their health over concerns of “irresponsible” disposal of asbestos at a building site in Holloway.

Workers at the former Trust Meat Co building, at the junction of Hillmarton Road and Camden Road, have allegedly been seen hacking away at roof tiles and tearing them apart in broad daylight, yards from family gardens.

Children have been kept indoors over parents’ fears that safety standards have been breached and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating after visiting the site.

Property agents MHA Associates, which plan to build 34 homes on the site, say they were aware of the asbestos and have employed a licensed contractor to carry out the work.

Father and builder Andros Anton, 57, whose five children live next door to the building, believes they are in danger.

“It’s irresponsbile,” he said. “From what I can see they have untrained people smashing the asbestos and ripping it up – you can see the dust coming off it.

“They’ve assured us that everything is fine and that all the boxes are ticked but I’ve been in the building industry all my life and I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

“This is supposed to be a soft strip demolition, taking it apart carefully to minimise dust.

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Mr Anton now has a certificate of analysis confirming the presence of Chrysotile asbestos at the site and has arranged with a solicitor to have names of his family members and neighbours put on the asbestos register.

He has also stopped his youngest daughters, Marina, eight, and, Ria, 12, from playing outside.

The HSE visited the site on Friday and have asked to see video footage taken by Mr Anton of the roof tiles being removed.

MHA Associates, which own the site, said it was aware of the asbestos and employed a licenced contractor to carry out the work.

Islington Council visited the site on July 22 and was satisfied with the method of removal described.