Asbestos find shuts Selfridges display

SELFRIDGES has been forced to close its window display after asbestos was found along the top of glass panes.

The company sealed 26 windows around the Oxford Street store after workmen surveying the building found the substance, known to cause cancer, in five areas.

A spokeswoman stressed that there had been no risk to public health and that the panels affected had already been removed safely.

If disturbed or broken, asbestos can release fibres that cause cancer. More than 4,000 people a year die from diseases related to the substance.

Christine Watts, communications director at Selfridges & Co, said the store had informed the Health and Safety Executive as soon as the asbestos was found last month.

"The windows were sealed up straight away," she said.

"The removal has been completed and now the next stage is obviously to rebuild the window frames."

The survey of the flagship store is ongoing but Miss Watts said she did not know if more asbestos would be found. "It's an old building and we always check for asbestos whenever we do a refurbishment," she said. "I cannot tell you whether it may or may not be found in the future."

The new window displays at Selfridges will be unveiled on 30 October.