A former textile worker in Bradford died after contracting a disease caused by her exposure to asbestos during her working life, an inquest heard.

Margaret Bentham, 69, of Springholes Lane, Thornton, died on February 5 this year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, the hearing in Bradford was told yesterday.

Miss Bentham, who was divorced, died in her home where she was cared for by her daughter and palliative care workers.

She had been in contact with the deadly substance through her work as a machinist in various textile factories in Bradford.

Her last job, before she retired, was as a dinner lady at Keelham Primary School, in Denholme, Bradford, which the court heard did not contribute to her condition.

A post-mortem examination found she had died from malignant mesothelioma and that she had been exposed to asbestos.

A written statement by Miss Bentham was read to the court which had been made with John Pickering and Partners Solicitors before her death.

The statement detailed her working history which included mainly repairing industrial garments such as overalls for almost 22 years.

In the statement she spoke about her experiences in her last job in the textile industry which was in a three-storey, Victorian-style property in Vicar Lane in Bradford.

She said she sat about 10ft away from three steam presses which had lagged piping.

In her time there of about 11 years she said she could not remember the piping being replaced or repaired and it used to cause a dust-type material.

Miss Bentham said she used to brush past the pipes quite regularly to get past them and she would get dust on her and pieces of clothing she was working on would have dust on them She said she used to pat the dust off the garments with her hands.

Bradford assistant deputy coroner Tim Ratcliffe recorded a verdict that she had died of industrial disease.

He said: “I am satisfied that during her working life she could have been exposed to fibres of asbestos which led to malignant mesothelioma.

“It seems clear to me certainly that on the balance of probabilities that on that basis industrial disease is the appropriate verdict for this case.”

In a second inquest, Mr Ratcliffe ruled out that industrial disease was the cause of the death of self-employed plumber Alan Garvey, 65, of Daleside Road, Keighley.

Mr Garvey, a single man, died of malignant mesothelioma at Manorlands Hospice, Oxenhope, on November 7, 2012.

Evidence was read to the court in the form of a letter from ASC, an organisation which removes hazardous waste confirming the collection of four bags of asbestos cement on February 20, 2012.

Mr Ratcliffe recorded an open verdict, saying: “I am not satisfied that in this case it was industrial disease, there is not enough evidence to suggest he was exposed to asbestos in a work environment.”