Between 150 and 180 households in the small town of Wateringen in Zuid-Holland province have been told to say indoors on Tuesday to avoid spreading asbestos.

The warning from the local council comes after a huge fire swept through a paint and wallpaper storage facility in the town on Monday night, releasing asbestos into the surrounding area.

The asbestos is lying on the ground in large lumps in three streets in Wateringen and the inhabitants have been told not to leave home. ‘We are worried they will crush the large pieces of asbestos into dust and increase the problem,’ local mayor Sjaak van der Tak told Radio 1 news. ‘They should see it as a compulsory day off and enjoy themselves.’

The clear-up process will take all day, according to the mayor.