AN open verdict has been recorded on the death of a pensioner.

Leslie Dinsdale, of Warwick Square, Darlington, worked at factories in the town throughout his life, including Cummins, Vickers and Paton and Baldwins.

His son, Christopher, told an inquest into his death yesterday that he did not know if his father had been exposed to asbestos during his employment.

A post-mortem examination on the 67-year-old did not find asbestos fibres, but it revealed a blood clot and a tumour, which are effects of being exposed to the substance, the court heard.

Coroner Andrew Tweddle said it could not be ascertained if Mr Dinsdale's death was from natural causes or industrial exposure to asbestos, so recorded an open verdict.