A demolition company was brought in today to begin tearing down houses destroyed in the Ayr gas explosion on Monday.
However work was halted this afternoon due to fears over the presence of asbestos, the Record understands.
Four houses most badly affected by the blast in Gorse Park, Ayr, are in the process of being flattened and large diggers have been brought in to carry out the demolition.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre that was widely used in construction and other industries until the late 1990s.
However, it is no longer used in building work due to being linked with serious illness including cancer - particularly when disturbed.
Demolition company Caskie were unable to comment on the presence of asbestos.
South Ayrshire Council were also contacted for comment.
Investigations remain ongoing to determine the cause of the massive explosion which left a family-of-four seriously injured.
Engineers from gas company SGN remain at the scene in Gorse Park and are assisting the emergency services with their probe.
Officials have been inspecting the properties damaged by the blast in the Kincaidston area on Monday night ‘from a distance’ with a cordon still in place.
The huge explosion, which could be felt for miles around, completely destroyed one house with a family-of-four inside leaving them all in serious conditions in hospitals across Glasgow.
We previously told how the home completely destroyed during the devastating explosion belonged to William and Marion Ferguson.
The mum, 43, was rushed to Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary along with her 16-year-old son while dad William was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The couple’s 11-year-old son was also seriously hurt and is being treated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
A total of 35 homes remain cordoned off by police in the Kincaidston area with a number damaged by the force of the blast.
