AN ATHERSLEY pensioner died from an asbestos related disease either caused by her job more than 40 years ago or by contact with her husband's work clothes.

Gwynneth Burden, who died of mesothelioma at the age of 85, had two periods with the Co-op, was in the ATS during the war and operated a machine for a canister company in the 1960s.

Her husband had worked on the production line at glassworks and there have been cases of housewives picking up asbestos fibres from their husband's clothes.

Mrs Burden, of Highfield Avenue, Athersley South, died from industrial disease and asbestos fibres were found in her body, an inquest was told.

Her son David said his mother had enjoyed a very good life up until six weeks before her death. Barnsley hospital’s pathologist Dr Caroline Quincy found a 4cm malignant tumour on the left lung and further 'discreet' tumours in the lower lobes.

The left lung had been obliterated by tumours and fluid was collecting on the right lung. A sample of fibres in the space between the lung and chest wall revealed plural plaque consistent with asbestos exposure.

The pathologist said even though this was a small sample it was likely there were tens of thousands of similar fibres in her system.

“The fact that she has plural plaque suggests she has had asbestos exposure, albeit in a way that we don’t realise.”

Recording a verdict of death caused by industrial disease, deputy coroner Donald Coutts-Wood told her two sons and daughter there was no doubt their mother had had contact with asbestos.