A FORMER Weymouth seaman has received £62,500 compensation four years after his wife died from asbestos-related cancer said to be as a result of washing his work overalls.

David Parker, 66, worked on the SS Sarnia steam ship as a greaser in the boiler rooms and engine room in 1966 and picked up asbestos fibres on his work clothes, which his wife Sylvia subsequently washed.

Mr Parker, who now lives in Swindon, claimed he was asked to repair pipes and remove the asbestos lagging on the Weymouth to Channel Islands ferry and was given no protective clothing to wear.

Sylvia died in 2003 aged 68 from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust. The following year Mr Parker launched an appeal in the Dorset Echo for fellow seamen to come forward and provide evidence in a case against ship owners British Rail.

Three people who worked in the shipping industry in the Weymouth area during the 1960s and early 70s came forward with similar tales of the working conditions and contact with asbestos.

Mr Parker said: "They had worked on ships and corroborated what I had said about asbestos floating around."

Mr Parker was represented by solicitor Brigitte Chandler of Charles Lucas & Marshall and British Rail reached an agreement with her to settle out of court with damages of £62,500 - but it continued to deny liability.

Mr Parker says the financial compensation was welcome but would in no way make up for the loss of his partner of 40 years.

He said: "It was never really about the money. It's nice obviously, but it was about my wife. She died of an industrial disease, which she got from somewhere, and that's the only place we could bring it down to."

Mr Parker added: "Some of the money will go towards putting a plaque up for my wife.

"It's a weight lifted off my shoulders and I have to get on with my life now."

Miss Chandler said: "As there is no legal precedent, these cases will continue to be resisted by insurers. However, any wife who was exposed to asbestos dust has a strong case to pursue against their husband's employers."