A 72-year-old woman who worked in the offices at a Blackburn gas mask factory more than 50 years ago died as a result of exposure to asbestos.

An inquest heard that retired medical secretary Phyllis Lewis had no major problems until earlier this year when she was referred to Professor Ormerod at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Having seen the results of a body scan he immediately asked if she had worked at the Garden Street gas mask factory during the war because he suspected she was suffering from maesothelioma, a lung tumour caused by exposure to asbestos.

Mrs Lewis, of Preston Old Road, Feniscowles, died two months later.

A post mortem examination confirmed Professor Ormerod's diagnosis and the medical cause of death was given as bronchopneumonia caused by malignant maesothelioma.

Recording an industrial disease verdict, coroner Michael Singleton said Mrs Lewis had enjoyed 50 years of relatively good health before the tumour developed.