HAZARDOUS asbestos has been dumped in the Malvern Hills.

An estimated 20 corrugated roofing sheets were discovered by a volunteer warden at Earnslaw car park.

A spokeswoman for the Malvern Hills Trust which manage the site said: "We're disappointed because the money we have to manage the land, a portion of that is now going to be spent on the removal of the hazardous material.

"Earnslaw car park is open but the hazardous area is cordoned off for the safety of the public.

"The waste will be removed by around lunchtime today and it has cost the Malvern Hills Trust in the region of £1000 to get a specialist company in to deal with it.

The material would have been dumped sometime during the early hours between Wednesday and Thursday.

Any information regarding the illegal tipping can be given in confidence to the MHT on 01684 892002.

Long term exposure to asbestos can lead to respiratory failure and the fibres can collect in the lungs, causing a rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma.