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A WIDOW whose husband died from a cancer linked to asbestos is seeking up to £300,000 from Poole council and a private company where he worked.

Barry Rankine, 62, died from malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissues surrounding his lungs or abdomen, according to a writ issued in London's High Court.

Now his widow, Annette Rankine, 52, of Edifred Road in Muscliff, Bournemouth, is claiming damages from Dixon Mechanical Services, of Ferndown, and Poole Borough Council, whom she blames for his death.

Mr Rankine was exposed to deadly asbestos dust and fibres when he worked as a heating engineer for Dixon's predecessor at Hurn Airport near Bournemouth between 1965 and 1976, the writ says.

He was also exposed to asbestos when he worked for the council as a painter and decorator working on council houses in the Poole area, it is alleged. He often worked in boiler rooms at the airport, stripping off asbestos lagging, and clearing up debris and dust, and by the end of the day he was often covered in dust, the court will hear.

His work for the council involved preparing pipes and gutters which contained asbestos, and he was not warned of the health risks of this, the writ says.

Mr Rankine started noticing symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue in 2005, and his condition was diagnosed in March 2006 after various medical procedures. He was treated with oxygen and radiotherapy, and he was distressed by the thought of his poor prognosis.

His condition deteriorated, and he suffered acute breathlessness, discomfort, coughing, sweating, and became more and more dependent on others, the writ says. He died on August 11 2006.

Mrs Rankine brands the company and the council negligent and says they failed to provide protective equipment, failed to damp down asbestos, failed to warn him of the dangers to his heath and failed to provide a safe system and place of work. She has taken the first steps in her legal battle for damages by issuing a writ, which has been assigned to procedural judge Master Whitaker.

Mesothelioma is a terminal and progressive cancer, almost invariably linked to exposure to asbestos at work. Her claim is the latest in a series of legal actions brought by cancer victims, or their relatives, from all over the country.

7:00pm Friday 7th September 2007

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