LOADING and unloading asbestos sheets and pipes led to the death of a Wotton-under-Edge lorry driver decades later, a coroner has ruled.

David Jones, of Old Town, worked for builders Jotcham and Kendall between 1963 and 1980 and made frequent trips to Fibrecrete at Chalford to collect asbestos, Gloucester Coroners Court was told.

County coroner Katy Skerrett said she was satisfied that was the principal reason Mr Jones contracted the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma and died on Wednesday, April 30 this year, aged 73.

She recorded a conclusion that his death was due to industrial disease.

In a statement he made after he was diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer Mr Jones said his work involved driving a heavy goods vehicle for Jotcham and Kendall.

He would go weekly to Fibrecrete to fetch materials including asbestos sheeting, drainpipes and guttering.

"It was always a very dusty environment," he stated.

Another former Jotcham and Kendall employee, Michael Goodwin, confirmed in a statement that the company had a contract with Fibrecrete to produce asbestos materials and they would be collected weekly.

A post mortem report confirmed Mr Jones died from mesothelioma and had a “significant” 36,000 mineral fibres per dry gram of his lung tissue.

"I am satisfied he was exposed to asbestos during his occupational work," said the coroner.

"It was the main, or significant cause, of his death."