A COMPANY has been cleared of all charges in a court case over deadly asbestos at Hugh Christie Technology College.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard Basildon-based firm Advanced Environmental Services was called in to the Tonbridge college's old building in May 2009 to get rid of asbestos before demolition.

It was alleged the firm failed to observe safety measures, putting workers' lives at risk.

But on the second day of the three-day trial lawyers for the company argued there was no case to answer and, in a surprise move, the prosecution announced on Wednesday it would be calling no further evidence in the case.

The jury, under Judge Martin Joy's direction, returned a not guilty verdict.

The court had been told an asbestos survey showed "extremely hazardous material" throughout the building.

Claire Harden, acting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, alleged satisfactory safeguards were not put in place in respect of asbestos debris on the floor of the tank room, and that employees were not wearing proper equipment.

"The Crown say that those employees were potentially exposed to inhaling asbestos fibres," she said.

After the case collapsed, HSE spokesman Clare Trenholm said: "Procedural issues with the way that some evidence was collected were raised during the trial.

"In light of this, and the fact that this company no longer has a licence to work with asbestos, it was felt that it was not in the public interest to pursue the prosecution."