ASBESTOS-RELATED cancer caused the death of a former Celanese Acetate worker who was exposed to the material during his time at the company.

Barry Matthews, of Slack Lane, Derby, started work cutting sections of plastic film for the Spondon firm in 1962, when it was British Celanese.

The 65-year-old spent a decade employed in building 3C, where the thermoplastic film known as clarifoil was manufactured and cut to size.

He also did sheeting work and rejoined the firm in 1997 until last year, when he had to retire through ill health.

Mr Matthews was diagnosed with asbestos-induced mesothelioma in 2007 and died last month.

A written statement, given by Mr Matthews before his death at Derby's Nightingale Macmillan Unit, was read out at Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court, during the inquest into his death yesterday.

In the statement, prepared for his solicitors, he said: "I believe there were asbestos substances in the roof space.

"I had no knowledge of it and only came to know because I was working in the same department in my second period in the job.

"There were asbestos removal contractors coming in to remove asbestos materials. I can recall them going up into the roof space and taking away bags of materials.

"The lagging was bashed in loads of places. I could see fibrous lagging sticking out. I worked in close vicinity. I'm certain I would have inhaled and ingested asbestos dust."

Mr Matthews said removal workers clad in full protective suits – like "space suits" complete with masks and goggles – were working at the site.

He also said that some pipework had stickers on warning employees that the lagging, which he claimed he had to climb over to get to machinery, contained asbestos.

A postmortem examination showed he died from malignant mesothelioma.

It comes after fellow former British Acetate worker Steven Barford, 54, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2007 and told he had no more than two years to live.

He is currently going through a legal battle with British Celanese and has appealed for former workmates to come forward.

He worked there from 1972 to 1977 and believes he was exposed to asbestos during his last two years, when he worked as a pipe-fitter's mate and took asbestos lagging off pipes.

The Derbyshire Asbestos Team charity said there had been about 15 cases brought against British Celanese in the county in the past five years.

Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner Dr Robert Hunter returned a verdict of industrial disease in Mr Matthews' death.

He said: "During the course of his employment, I'm satisfied that Mr Matthews was exposed to asbestos."

No-one from Celanese was available for comment.