A PENSIONER who left school at the age of 13 to work in the mills died of asbestos poisoning, an inquest was told.

Elsie McLucas, of Oak Street, Shawforth, died in hospital in last October, aged 79.

An inquest into her death was opened in October last year, but because she had previously worked in a number of mills in the Rochdale area and had come into contact with asbestos, it was adjourned for further tests to be carried out.

The inquest heard how Elsie left school to work at Turners Mill in Spotland Road, Rochdale.

Her first job was as a winder, which meant using raw asbestos.

Giving evidence at the hearing her son George McLucas said Elsie later spent time working as a munitions worker in other Rochdale mills -- again using asbestos.

A post-mortem examination, carried out by Burnley General Hospital's consultant pathologist, Dr Twaij, found a mass on the right side of her chest.

Under further examination Dr Twaij told the inquest the mass was a malignant tumour.

Smaller, similar tumours were also found in her liver. Millions of asbestos fibres were found in her lungs.

Recording a verdict of death by industrial disease, acting East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: "I have little doubt and little option when faced with facts such as these but to return a verdict of industrial disease."