Trefor Williams died eight months after being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.

The 67-year-old from Greenfield Rise, Cowplain, had been exposed to the deadly dust throughout his 50-year career as a plumber.

Mr Williams died from pneumonia caused by the cancer in the right side of his chest on February 2.

Wife Elizabeth, known as Anne, said: 'He had been a plumber all his life.

'His first job on his first day was cutting asbestos pipes to show he could saw straight. During his lifetime he had always been a plumber and worked on and off with asbestos.'

She added: 'He used to come home and I would shake out his overalls. We didn't give it a thought.

'Trevor used to say a man was his own safety officer, but he couldn't protect himself from asbestos because we didn't know the dangers.'

Recordng a verdict that Mr Williams died from an industrial disease, Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire coroner David Horsley said: 'Quite clearly, from the evidence I have heard, I can say he has caught (mesothelioma) through working with asbestos all his life.'