Around 1,000 tonnes of sand mixed with building materials was dumped

A 250-metre section of the Blue Flag beach, between Flag Head Chine and Shore Road, Poole, was closed to the public on 21 January, after traces of white asbestos were found in a piece of cement.

The rubble was dumped by a building contractor as part of Poole Borough Council's plans to tackle beach erosion.

The Environment Agency is now investigating whether the toxic material was illegally dumped at the site, which has won European Blue Flag status for the past 15 years for its clean water and environmental management.

We remain in close liaison with the Dorset health protection unit, which has advised that the risk associated with any of the asbestos found on the beach is very low Peter Pawlowski

Poole Borough Council has since begun a clean-up operation using an excavator, with trucks making about 10 to 15 visits to the site a day.

Parts of the promenade are closed during the work.

Julian Wardlaw, the agency's environment management team leader for Dorset, said: "We are examining whether any waste offence has been committed and if the right procedures were followed in this case."

Samples taken by the agency showed the impact to the natural environment has been very low.

Peter Pawlowski, head of consumer protection for Poole Borough Council, said human health risks were also minimal.

He said: "We remain in close liaison with the Dorset health protection unit, which has advised that the risk associated with any of the asbestos found on the beach is very low. "