A MAN who did not handle asbestos still died with a large number of fibres in his body an inquest has heard.

Assistant deputy Teesside Coroner Anthony Eastwood said of forensic tests on the late George Mundy: "The level of fibres was five times the level thought to be significant.''

An inquest in Middlesbrough heard that the 63-year-old, who lived in Forest Drive, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, worked for most of his life as a process worker with ICI on Teesside.

Although he never handled asbestos, he worked while fitters lagged pipes above him, and with lagging material lying about, his widow, Mrs Judith Mundy, 58, said. He died 24 hours after being admitted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, in January, of asbestos-related mesothelioma.

Consultant physician Dr Stephen Murphy told the inquest: "In general, mesothelioma is regarded as incurable.''

Mr Mundy had undergone surgery at a hospital in Leicester, last year, but the tumour had spread to surrounding tissue.

Mr Eastwood ruled that Mr Mundy died of an industrial disease, and asbestos fibres in his body "significantly contributed to the disease.''