South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy fears thousands could be at risk of lead poisoning in their homes

A hidden danger could be lurking in thousands of Norfolk homes, an MP has warned.

Terry Jermy, who represents South West Norfolk, fears hundreds of thousands of children and adults could be at risk of being poisoned by lead.

The polluting metal could be leaching from old pipes and can create toxic dust if it flakes and rubs off walls, windows and door frames.

Older homes - a high percentage of which are found in Norfolk - are particularly at risk.

The issue has led Mr Jermy to campaign to raise awareness about the dangers, which experts say could be a “ticking time bomb” due to a lack of testing and safety guidance from the Government.

Exposure to the metal can impair the mental development of children and have a devastating impact on almost every organ in the body.

Last year, public guidelines were removed by the Government on how to “decorate safely” in homes where lead is present, deeming it out of date.

But it has recently said no new advice would be issued.

Mr Jermy said: “The guidance ran out under the last government in April. The need for new guidance is of the utmost importance as the UK is home to some of the oldest housing in the world, including across the region.

“Lead is a clear and present danger to children, with over 200,000 living with lead levels above the safe medical amount.

“It also risks all of the UK population as lead has an impact on all organs in the body.

“This is a very serious issue that will not go away, and further measures need to be taken as a matter of urgency. There must be further testing and collection of data across all government departments and bodies.”

Most lead paint was banned from sale in 1992. Before this, some paints contained such a high level of lead compounds that just one flake could poison a small child.

Lead pipes were banned in 1970 but they may still be present in older properties.

People unaware of the dangers could be dry sanding lead paint and creating highly toxic dust in their homes.

Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Emma Hardy told the House of Commons last month that the Government “does not currently plan to issue new guidance on lead paint”, in response to a written question from Mr Jermy.

This decision has drawn criticism from health experts, who say the UK is now at odds with other nations, such as the United States.

Ludovica Gazze, an environmental and health economist at the University of Warwick, said it was “disconcerting, considering that another government agency, UKHSA, specifically names lead paint as a potential source of lead poisoning”.

Tim Pye, co-founder of the Lead Exposure and Poisoning Prevention (LEAPP) Alliance, is campaigning for more awareness on the issue.

He told the Financial Times he has heard several stories of DIYers and tradespeople contaminating homes through the incorrect removal of lead paint.

Campaigners have also called for the Government to make it mandatory for lead hazards and risk assessments to be included in homebuyers’ surveys.

England’s Housing Ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, has also grown worried about the danger of lead and has called for a survey of properties to assess the presence of the metal.

He warned that lead was going “undetected” in housing and should be treated as seriously as the risks posed to humans from asbestos, mould and damp.

A spokeswoman for Defra said it withdrew its home decoration advice as it was out of date. It does still publish guidance to builders on how to safely deal with old lead paint.