A man who worked with asbestos for most of his life died of industrial disease related to his profession, an inquest has heard.

Robert James Roe, 74, of Coates Avenue, Barnoldswick, was a draughtsman for multiple engineering companies throughout the 1960s.

It was during the job Mr Roe had said he and colleagues "would look like snowmen" at the end of a shift after being covered in asbestos.

Born in Bradford, one of Robert's first jobs was at Spooner Industries in Ilkley.

He was mainly working in the office at first, but later asked to go on the shop floor as he felt it was more engaging.

His main job was to cut asbestos ribbons for a multitude of purposes, and Preston Coroner's Court heard that none of the staff at the time were aware of the dangers of the product.

In a civil matter previously, Mr Roe himself gave a statement when he was alive for a personal injury claim for asbestos disease.

The statement said: "We dealt with asbestos for at least three hours a day, we used to joke about how we looked like snowmen because of all the white dust.

"I know a colleague thought it was bad as he gave us bottles of milk and masks to try to help."

Mr Roe later had many different jobs, including becoming a bus conductor in Skipton, a milkman, and as part of the Ministry of Defence before retiring.

In July 2022, he began to lose weight and his appetite, as he found it hard to breathe.

He was taken into Airedale General Hospital in Steeton, West Yorkshire, where they found three litres of water in his lungs and confirmed he had the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.

Mr Roe was treated with steroids and chemotherapy to try to help the disease, but died on Sunday, October 29, at his home.

Concluding the inquest Coroner Kate Bisset gave a cause of death as industrial disease.

She said: "I cannot say which specific job caused him the most damage, as he said himself he worked with asbestos in a multitude of places.

"However, I am satisfied to say that his career in general caused the disease. I send my condolences to his family.

"I am so sorry for your loss."