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Soil contamination around Grenfell Tower caused by the fire could lead to an increased risk of cancer and respiratory problems including asthma, a study has found.

Analysis of soil, debris and char samples of insulation boards used on the tower has revealed heightened concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals and proven carcinogens including benzene within 200m (656ft) of the tower.

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Researchers from the University of Central Lancashire have recommended a long-term health screening process be put in place for residents and emergency responders who attended the fire, and called for a further independent analysis of the health impacts.

Residents told Sky News the report confirmed their concerns about widespread air and soil contamination following the fire, and said Public Health England and other government agencies should have done more to investigate the issue.

The researchers, who previously established that the insulation used in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment gave off deadly hydrogen cyanide during the fire, initially tested soil, debris and char samples a month after the fire and found they were contaminated with cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Then they took soil samples from six locations up to 1.2km from the tower. Soil samples within 140m of the tower contained six PAHs at levels 160 times higher than found in reference soil from other urban areas.

Benzene concentrations up to 40 times higher than normal were discovered up to 140m away from the tower.

Some 17 months after the fire the scientists also found dust and oily deposits in a flat 160m away that contained isocyanates - potent respiratory sensitisers that can lead to asthma after a single exposure.

"These substances were discovered in quantities that could indicate that they resulted from the burning of specific materials which were used in the 2016 refurbishment of Grenfell Tower," the researchers concluded.

Professor Anna Stec, professor in fire chemistry and toxicity at the University of Central Lancashire and lead author of the study, said: "There is undoubtedly evidence of contamination in the area surrounding the tower, which highlights the need for further in-depth, independent analysis to quantify any risks to residents.

"It is now crucial to put in place long-term health screening to assess any long-term adverse health effects of the fire on local residents, emergency responders and clean-up workers.

"This will also provide a future readiness for dealing with any further such disasters."

Tasha Gordon, a resident on the Lancaster West estate next to the tower, told Sky News: "It's really upsetting, it's something that should have been done at the start - it shouldn't have taken two years to do.

"Everyone is affected who lives close because you are always ill.

"A lot of people have ended up coughing really badly.

"There are so many risks and it's only now that it is being told there is a potential high risk where we are living now."

Some 17 months after the fire the scientists also found dust and oily deposits in a flat 160m away that contained isocyanates - potent respiratory sensitisers that can lead to asthma after a single exposure.

Resident David O'Connell said: "There are thousands of people who live here who have been affected by this.

"We are talking about a huge public health screening programme.

"This will go on for years and years and years and they still haven't demolished the tower yet and we have no idea what health effects that will have."

Judith Blakeman, Labour councillor for the ward that contains Grenfell Tower, said she had doubts about the health advice residents had been given.

"We were given advice by Public Health England that it was quite safe for us to eat the food we grow in our kitchen gardens and we've got lots round here - every council estate has a kitchen garden.

"We've expressed concerns about it but been told it's quite safe.

"What worries me now, even personally because I used to cook a lot of rhubarb crumble as my neighbour's children love it - I don't think it matters to me as I'm old but for the children it's really worrying."

PHE said it would study the findings of the report and continued to monitor air quality.

A government spokesperson said: "We take Professor Stec's findings extremely seriously, and fully appreciate the ongoing health concerns.

"We have established a comprehensive programme of environmental checks to fully assess the risks and take appropriate action.

"Professor Stec is part of an independent group of scientists overseeing this work and her findings will inform the checks we are conducting.

"We are committed to keeping the community safe and safeguarding their long-term health.

"Anyone living near Grenfell Tower who is concerned as a result of this news should speak to their GP, who will arrange for additional health checks to be carried out."