Reform councillor had to strip and isolate outside his home after dangerous package sent to his address

A Reform UK councillor has been forced to be "stripped and isolated" outside his home after receiving a suspicious package.

Charlie Latchford, the representative for Longbridge and West Heath in Birmingham, shared the "disturbing" ordeal on social media.

On Thursday evening, Mr Latchford received a package sent his home containing suspected asbestos.

Upon opening the parcel, he revealed that the sender had packaged it in such a way that would ensure "maximum exposure" to the dangerous substance.

Sharing the "personal" incident in a Facebook post, Mr Latchford said: "I wouldn’t normally post about something this personal, but the current climate is becoming increasingly disturbing.

"This evening, I received a package containing suspected asbestos, deliberately packaged in a way that would cause maximum exposure to whoever opened it."

West Midlands Police and the local fire service were called to his home in response to the incident, where the councillor was then "stripped" and "isolated outside his home".

His road was also quarantined as a further safety measure to protect Mr Latchford and his neighbours.

Mr Latchford said: "I’m grateful to the Fire Service and West Midlands Police for removing it and treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves under Operation Ford."

The emergency services also arranged for an ambulance to be sent to the scene to assess the Birmingham councillor.

He then revealed: "I have been stripped, isolated outside and my road had to be quarantined. This package will be traced."

Sending a clear message to whoever sent the package, Mr Latchford declared that "no political or personal grievance" justifies "putting someone's life at risk".

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Mr Latchford concluded his post: "Let’s be absolutely clear: no disagreement, no difference of opinion and no political or personal grievance justifies deliberately putting someone’s health or life at risk."

West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service since confirmed there were "no signs of hazardous materials".

West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We attended an address in Birmingham at around 7.30pm yesterday (15 October) to reports of a suspicious package.

"The package was tested by specialist fire service colleagues and showed no signs of hazardous materials.

"Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information should call 101 quoting log 4436 of 15 October."

Asbestos is the general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres.

Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various dangerous lung conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

The importation of blue and brown asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1985, which was then widened to include white asbestos in 1999.