A FAMILY is seeking compensation for the death of a man after inhaling asbestos in the workplace.

Engineer Brian Newton, from Billingham, Teesside, was diagnosed with the cancer mesothelioma in January 1999.

His moving story, which involved him flying to America to be assessed for revolutionary gene therapy, will be featured on BBC1 next week.

Mr Newton's family is angry because he fell ill despite only spending five per cent of his working time exposed to asbestos.

Their anger has been heightened because they have been unable to trace his insurance records from the company he used to work for.

Mr Newton's 23-year-old son, Richard, is hoping to track down anyone who worked with his father at George T Robinson's premises in Middlesbrough in 1974.

He hopes they will be able to provide the family with details about the insurance scheme.

Richard Newton said: "My father didn't ask to get this illness and was only exposed to asbestos for five per cent of the 18 months he worked at the company.

"My mother, Margaret, is disabled and she still lives in the same house and has to pay the same bills.

"No money will help to bring him back, but it would help, and it is something we are entitled to."

Anyone who may have worked with Mr Newton at George T Robinson's Linthorpe/Dinsdale site can contact the family's London solicitors, O H Parsons, on 0800 526368.