UNION leaders have made official complaints about demolition works at the former Federal Mogul site in Lydney.

John Cooke, convenor for the UNITE Union from the adjacent Federal site, says he fears the work being carried out by Encia Ltd on behalf of developers MMC2 to remove asbestos lined with steel from the former Mogul works could be exposing his co-workers to pollution.

He says there has been "asbestos flying everywhere" which could affect "not only people at Federal but those living in the Lakeside area as well.

"We are concerned that the demolition method statement supplied by Encia is not being followed properly and would urge them to work over the weekend when nobody is working at the Federal site. That would simply be common sense."

Official complaints have been lodged with the Health and Safety Executive in Bristol, after negotiations with Encia. A spokesman for the HSE said: "We are aware of the complaints and are actively investigating the situation."