A WIDOW whose husband died from asbestos-related cancer has launched a legal battle to win up to £150,000 in compensation. William Thomas, 78, died in February last year from malignant mesothelioma, a cancer effecting the tissues surrounding the lungs or stomach caused by exposure to asbestos. Now his widow Marjorie Thomas, of Netherton, has started a fight to get compensation from his former employers Tate and Lyle and Kraft Foods UK Ltd. A writ has been lodged at the high court alleging that Mr Thomas was exposed to lethal asbestos dust and fibres when he worked for the companies between 1962 and 1968, and 1968 and 1982 respectively. Mr Thomas became breathless in October 2005 and had a string of hospital appointments. Eventually doctors warned him he might be suffering from the fatal disease. In May 2006 he underwent surgery, but he died less than 10 months later from the painful and debilitating disease. The writ says that during his illness, Mr Thomas needed intensive care and assistance and claims his life expectancy was cut short. The claim, which was started by Mr Thomas before his death, accuses his former employers of negligence, saying they failed to provide ventilation or suitable breathing equipment. It also alleges they failed to damp down asbestos, warn him of the risks or provide him with a safe place to work. Mr Thomas worked for Tate and Lyle as a plant maintenance operative, repairing pumps and spray drying machinery. The writ claims he was exposed to asbestos lagging on pipes and fittings during his job. He also worked near to laggers mixing up asbestos fibre in open containers, and applying it to pipes and fittings, it is alleged. At Kraft, he worked as a project engineer at various factories, and visited one in Haverford West where an old asbestos lagged boiler was removed. Horror of fatal asbestos cancer MESOTHELIOMA is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. The average life expectancy of someone diagnosed with the disease is about a year. Symptoms include pain in the lower back, shoulder or side of the chest, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, weight loss and trouble swallowing. For help or info contact Mesothelioma UK on 0800 169 2409. news@liverpoolecho.co.uk | 
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