The widow of a respected industrialist who breathed in deadly asbestos at a company where he later became a director, was awarded £180,000 compensation yesterday.

Peter Edwards, 76, died of mesothelioma after breathing in fibres at Smith's Dock, on Teesside and at North Shields, North Tyneside.

He started work as an apprentice with the company in Teesside, later became dock assistant, fitter and then director, between 1958 and 1965.

After leaving the company, he was President of the Independent Steel Producer's Association and was appointed High Sheriff for County Durham.

He died in May 2000, ten months after being diagnosed with the disease.

The family's solicitor, Adrian Budgen, partner and head of the national asbestos team at Irwin Mitchell, said: "The legacy of our industrial past still haunts many families.

"Unprotected exposure in shipyards and many other workplaces has tragically caused many people to develop fatal diseases that have only presented themselves recently, decades after exposure to asbestos.

"Compensation for loss of income, for pain and suffering and for care is available to those who can prove guilty exposure to asbestos."

Jill Edwards, of Masham, in North Yorkshire, won her battle for general damages yesterday in an out of court settlement at the High Court, sitting in Newcastle.