A HEREFORDSHIRE woman died from respiratory failure having spent more than 20 years exposed to blue asbestos.

An inquest in Hereford heard how Kathleen Francis, aged 73, of Newtown Lane, Leominster, had been exposed to the material while working at the Ministry of Defence camp in Moreton-on-Lugg, where she was employed between 1970 and 1993.

A statement from Ms Francis, written before her death on August 3 last year, was read out by Herefordshire Deputy Coroner Mark Bricknell.

Ms Francis said she recalled working in a dusty atmosphere in A' shed, which had its roof sprayed with blue asbestos. The inquest heard how birds used to peck at the roof causing debris, which included asbestos, to fall to the ground in big lumps.

Her statement said no warning about the danger of asbestos was given to staff during her time there, nor was any respiratory equipment provided for workers.

In a statement read to the inquest, Philip Ryan, consultant in respiratory and general medicine at Hereford County Hospital, said that Ms Francis had been on holiday in 2005 when she had first felt breathless.

After seeing a GP she was transferred to a specialist at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital.

Mr Ryan said it was "clear that she had a history of previous asbestos exposure" and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs.

The inquest also heard a statement from Barbara Weavers, senior medical officer at St Michael's Hospice, who said Ms Francis' condition had improved before she was admitted into hospital last July with right chest wall pain.

Her condition began to deteriorate towards the end of July and she died at St Michael's Hospice in Bartestree on August 3.

The Deputy Coroner recorded a verdict of death due to respiratory failure caused by mesothelioma, adding that it was an industrial disease.