A man who inhaled asbestos fibres while working as a 15-year-old apprentice plumber died from industrial disease 58 years later.

A Bradford inquest today heard how Geoffrey Bell’s family were now seeking compensation for his death last March.

Mr Bell, of First Street, Low Moor, had left school to be an apprentice with a business in Saltaire for two years before leaving the firm and taking on other jobs.

He had told his family when he was at that workplace he had been exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, the inquest heard.

In later years he went on to suffer heart problems and a number of strokes. He also had mesothelioma.

Mr Bell was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he died three days later.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said he believed there was a causal relationship between Mr Bell having been an apprentice plumber at 15 and his death, which was proved by asbestos fibres he had inhaled.

He said Mr Bell had died from industrial disease.