A BUSY corridor at the Royal Bolton Hospital has been sealed off after a service duct was found to contain traces of asbestos dust.

Hospital bosses have given assurances that patients and visitors will not be at risk from the potentially lethal substance. The walkway, between blocks B and C, has been closed and builders have been called in to make the area safe.

The floor of the corridor was said to be "unsound", causing a temporary collapse.

The corridor was built in 1927, at a time when asbestos was widely used as a routine building material -- but it has since been discovered in some cases to cause the fatal lung condition asbestosis.

A hospital spokesman said: "The service duct under the floor has been found to contain traces of asbestos dust. In order to repair the floor, we must first remove this. The area has been sealed and workmen using specialist equipment and clothing are carrying out the removal in strict accordance with safety guidance.

"There is no question of any of the asbestos fibres migrating."

Although people cannot walk along that section of the ground floor corridor, they can bypass it by going up the stairs or taking the lift to the floor above.

There is still full access to all wards departments.

The hospital spokesman added: "We anticipate that the work will be completed by the end of January. Meanwhile, we apologise for any inconvenience."