A 93-YEAR-OLD man found dead at a nursing home died of asbestos exposure, an inquest heard.

Clifford Naylor, of Manor House in Bridge Road, Chatburn, died on November 7, last year.

The inquest at the Blackburn Enterprise Centre heard Mr Naylor worked as a sheet metal worker in Leeds in the 1950s where he was exposed to asbestos.

In a statement read out by coroner Michael Singleton, written by Mr Naylor before his death, he said he worked in a warehouse that contained asbestos.

The inquest heard Mr Naylor had been fit and well at the start of the year, but began to feel unwell in June.

Mr Naylor’s condition began to deteriorate gradually.

Mr Singleton said the medical cause of death was mesothelioma.

He said: “I state that with the evidence of Clifford Taylor, the medical cause of his death was mesothelioma, as during his working life he was exposed to asbestos.

“I pass on my sincere condolences to the family and his wife, Gladys Naylor.”