A WOMAN said she has been made ill and feels unsafe in her home after it was discovered her flat was filled with disturbed asbestos.

Kat Harris, who lives on Crickley Drive, Warndon, claimed Platform Housing is "endangering lives" after discovering her home was filled with the material.

If asbestos fibres are disturbed and inhaled by a person, it can cause an increased risk of various illnesses, including a type of lung cancer.

Worcester News: Asbestos particles in Ms Harris' kitchen.Asbestos particles in Ms Harris' kitchen. (Image: Kat Harris)Ms Harris claimed she was unaware of the asbestos and was only told after an electrician refused to carry out work because her home contained the material.

She said she had been drilling holes into her walls, unaware it was disturbing the material.

In one instance, a bird flew through her kitchen ceiling, causing asbestos particles to fall around the room.

Worcester News: Kat Harris lives on Crickley Drive.Kat Harris lives on Crickley Drive. (Image: Kat Harris)"The bird flew through a hole and brought down a massive chunk of ceiling and powder fell all around," she said.

"I did not know what to do and had asbestos on me and in my food.

"It was not taken seriously. We are talking about white asbestos in my kitchen.

"I feel very unsafe in my home and started to get chest pain and anxiety, mainly out of guilt as I had my partner and son help me in the house."

Worcester News: The hole is Ms Harris' kitchen. The hole is Ms Harris' kitchen. (Image: Kat Harris)Ms Harris has now stuck up warning signs around her estate, fearing that others may also be in the dark.

She is worried about the possibility of thousands of people like her who may be unaware they are living in an asbestos home.

"My fury is that I was not told and my son and partner went into an asbestos-filled house to put up shelves and do my lighting for me.

"My issue is that there may be thousands and thousands of people living in homes with asbestos and don't know.

"How many lives are being endangered?

"I look at other blocks and feel angry that other families are going about their weekends and may carry out some DIY and don't know."

It has led her to campaign for more transparency from Platform Housing.

Mark Bell, head of building safety at Platform Housing Group, said: "Asbestos is not dangerous if it's in good condition and left alone. 

"We provide detailed advice to our customers about asbestos, why it can be a risk, where it is most likely to be found in the home, and how to report any concerns to us. 

"We would always remove any dangerous asbestos but it is normally safer when left alone."