ASBESTOS could be hidden underneath a popular playing field in Cirencester, a worried resident has claimed.

Godfrey Curtis, 58, who lives in Berry Hill Crescent said he remembers workmen dumping truck loads of asbestos sheeting onto the field between the Whiteway and Bowling Green Avenue, fondly known as the Humpty Dumps, when he was a boy.

He feels that he is the only one who knows about the hidden danger and his biggest fear is that if the land is developed, the asbestos would be disturbed and could be life-threatening to nearby residents.

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed, fibres are released into the air which can be fatal if inhaled.

“If someone says you’re lying, I would say ‘dig it up then’,” said Mr Curtis. “They cannot afford to ignore it. If someone gets sick then the company would be sued for millions.”

Chief executive of Cirencester Town Council Andrew Tubb said the council was unaware of any asbestos underneath the portion of Humpty Dumps it owns.

“There is reference to the town council land being used as a children’s play area as far back as the 1970s and there is extensive correspondence from local residents on the issue of providing, installing and removing play equipment for children, both for and against and there is no reference to any concern of asbestos,” he said.

Members of the Friends of the Humpty Dumps Committee (FROTH) recently applied to officially designate the area as a village green, meaning it would be safe from development. They were left disappointed after the application was rejected but plan to appeal.

Residents have been fighting to save the area from development since Baylight Properties proposed to build 100 houses there in January 2010.

Mayor of Cirencester Mark Harris, who has been heavily involved in the campaign to save the Humpty Dumps, said it was ‘scary’ to think there could be asbestos underneath the land, which is often used by dog walkers, families and children playing.