THIRTY police officers and other emergency service workers are feared to have been exposed to deadly asbestos 30 years ago at the Grand bombing, it has emerged.

Sussex Police have made a public warning to following the death of a police officer who was exposed to the deadly substance as he searched the rubble after the IRA attack in 1984.

Five people died and 31 people were injured when the bomb, planted by the IRA's Patrick Magee, detonated on the sixth floor – in an attempt to kill the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet.

The family of Metropolitan Police detective Jonathan Woods are taking legal action against against Sussex Police claiming they did not adequately protect him from the risks of asbestos.

Police are now urging others who worked at the bomb site to see their doctors in case they were also exposed.

Solicitor Andrew James - representing Mr Woods' family told The Argus: "When the bomb blew up, it collapsed the building into the basement.

"Jonathan Woods and 15 Met and 15 Sussex Police officers picked through the dust in the basement, which it turns out was contaminated with blue asbestos, but weren't protected.

"Jonathan Woods is the first Met officer that we know of to have developed mesothelioma as a result of this.

"I know Sussex Police is concerned that 15 of their officers could also have been exposed.

"In 1984 they would definitely have known the risks of asbestos. There had been a big publicity campaign a couple of years before.

"It can be 60 years before the effects start to show themselves, but once you are exposed you are always at risk."

Assistant chief constable of Sussex Police Steve Barry, said: “We are trying to identify and inform emergency service colleagues and others who may have been exposed to asbestos fibres to offer medical advice and support.

“I understand that on hearing this news people may be anxious as to whether they have been exposed to asbestos and concerned about the possible effects on their health.

“People could have potentially been exposed to asbestos fibres within the hotel debris and while we know that police officers working at the scene were issued with personal protective equipment, this was some days after the explosion.

“I feel I have an ethical duty to identify and inform people now as we have become aware that a Metropolitan police officer, who had worked at the scene, sadly died from an asbestos-related disease in December last year.

"While the chances are small that people were exposed at any length to asbestos, we want to offer reassurance and health advice."

HELPER PAID HIGHEST PRICE AFTER BREATHING ASBESTOS

JONATHAN Woods was one of a team of 31 Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police officers who went into the basement of the Grand just hours after the bombing.

Without a thought for their own safety, they removed tons of rubble by hand. At times the dust was so thick they had to stop working to see. But that dust contained asbestos that led to his death.

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, Mr Woods took Sussex Police to court. They accepted liability but he died before his case was concluded.

His solicitor is now resuming his case for his widow, Sharon.

Retired detective superintendent Bernie Wells was in charge of the Sussex Police team of anti-terror officers who worked with Met police officers, including Detective Woods, to clear the site in the aftermath of the bomb. Mr Wells said he had not heard any suggestion of asbestos at the scene and was surprised that Sussex Police had not spoken to him in the wake of Mr Woods’ death.

Speaking to The Argus yesterday, he said: “I was the officer in charge at Brighton at that time and no mention of asbestos ever came to my notice.

“No one ever even raised the possibility of asbestos in the building.

“Had I known about it, I know we would have taken action. The dangers of asbestos were widely known at that time.”