A community living in the shadow of a quarry have described their lives being blighted by terrifying explosions and fears of exposure to toxic dust, dubbing the ordeal “the slow Aberfan disaster”.

Craig Yr Hesg quarry in Glyncoch, near Pontypridd was given the green light to expand by the former climate change minister Julie James in 2022 following an appeal.

The stone found at Craig-yr-Hesg has been described as one of the highest quality in the UK with 10 million tonnes expected to be quarried at the site over the next two decades.

But people living nearby say they have suffered breathing difficulties and mental health struggles.

Heidelberg Materials says there is “no evidence” to suggest any link between quarrying and lung disease among members of the public who live close to quarries.

RCTCBC says it raised objections relating to lack of standards for nuisance dust during the planning appeal stage of the quarry’s expansion.