George Byworth had been involved with removing asbestos on commercial and industrial heating systems in his younger days and told his wife, Linda, the air had been 'thick with asbestos dust'.

She told the inquest at Eastbourne her 62-year-old husband had gone to his GP, Dr Peter Williams at the Arlington Road Medical practice, in November 2006 with a pain in his lower back.

He had various tests and scans and was admitted to the district general, Brighton and Guys Hospital and was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in January 2007.

Mr Byworth, who lived with his wife at their home in Meads Road, Eastbourne, died on February 22.

Pathologist Dr Christopher Moffat said Mr Byworth had a very large tumour which had spread around the lung and caused it to collapse.

He also said fibres of asbestos were found in the lungs and in his opinion, the cause of death was due to mesothelioma.

Mrs Byworth told the inquest, "My husband was very fit and enjoyed good health only shortly before he died.

"When he was doing his apprenticeship in plumbing and heating in London in the old buildings, he told me they worked removing and installing boilers.

"He said they had to break all the asbestos off the boilers and the air used to be thick with dust."

Deputy coroner Joanna Pratt said she was satisfied Mr Byworth's cancer had been caused by exposure to asbestos.

"He was exposed to asbestos during his working life and it was that exposure which caused his death."

Miss Pratt recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease.