A RETIRED fitter diagnosed with fatal asbestos-related disease mesothelioma has been awarded a six-figure compensation settlement from his former employers.

Maurice Gardner, 75, was employed at the BRB Residuary Ltd workshops on North Road, Darlington, as an apprentice fitter from 1948 to 1953. He then spent three years fulfilling his national service, before returning to work as a fitter until 1963.

He was exposed to asbestos fibres throughout his employment and was eventually diagnosed with mesothelioma on 21st January 2008.

Mr Gardner, who lives in Darlington, instructed industrial disease specialists at Irwin Mitchell to represent him in a legal claim against his former employers, who admitted liability for his condition and agreed an out-of-court settlement worth £156,000.

His solicitor Neil Wilkinson, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "The levels of asbestos to which Mr Gardner was exposed to were comparatively high. He was working daily with asbestos lagging around engine boilers - he had to brush away asbestos dust, and was present when holes were drilled in the asbestos sheeting to attach other parts.

"This was done with hand tools and the lagging was in poor condition. It is hardly surprising that this has had such an adverse effect on his health.

"It should be remembered that there was recognition of the dangers of asbestos from early in the 20th century. The report of Merewether and Price on 'The effects of asbestos dust on lungs and dust suppression in the asbestos industry' was referred to the annual reports of the chief inspector for factories for 1928 and 1929 and led to the Asbestos Industries Regulations 1931. Despite this and further information, reports and legislation many employers continued to expose their workers to the deadly substance.

Earlier this month two families from the North-Est were each awarded more than £100,000 in compensation after former employees of a now defunct Hartlepool shipbuilding firm contracted asbestos-related disease.

In September this year industrial disease lawyer Roger Maddocks, who is also from Irwin Mitchell, called for potentially deadly asbestos to be removed from every school in the region within two years.

The call followed the death of 28 year old Leigh Carlisle, from Oldham, who is believed to be the youngest recorded person ever to die from mesothelioma.

Her family suspect she was exposed to asbestos while at primary school.