A beach in South Ayrshire has reopened following the completion of asbestos removal works.

Prestwick Beach was closed on 29 July after analysis of small pieces of material found on the beach revealed the substances contained asbestos fibres.

A specialist contractor was appointed to remove any additional material and carry out detailed analysis. Further investigations confirmed that the material found on the beach prior to the closure, as well as the additional material retrieved by the contractor, contained Chrysotile 'White' asbestos.

The material is more commonly known as asbestos cement, found in sheets used for roofing and wall cladding.

Experts from Asbestos Analytical Services have confirmed the potential for asbestos fibre release from the material is "very low", while public health experts added the risk to beach users is negligible.

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The main northern stretch of the beach was reopened on 05 August and inspections/removal work continued on the southern stretch over the weekend.

The council said it believes the material was washed ashore after being in the water for a "considerable period of time".

Mike Newall, the Council's Head of Neighbourhood Services, said: "When the material was initially identified as containing asbestos, we took swift action to close the beach right away. That was purely a precautionary measure to allow us to investigate further.

"We now have sufficiently robust information from both our technical experts and our public health experts that the risk to the public is negligible and, as such, I'm very pleased we can reopen the main stretch of Prestwick Beach to locals and visitors alike.

"We will also continue to work with our partners, as appropriate, to get to the bottom of how this material got on to the beach in the first place.

"We will be undertaking monthly inspections of the beach for asbestos cement materials over the next three months (September, October, November) and removing any identified material. We will then review the position after that time."

(LM/CD)