THE widow of a former Swindon railway worker has become one of the first people to successfully sue two companies in a mesothelioma compensation case.

Audrey Chapman, who used to live in Pinehurst Road, has received £100,000 nearly three years after her husband William, an apprentice fitter and turner with British Rail at the Great Western Railway works in Churchward, died of the asbestos-related cancer - branded the Swindon disease - in 2001.

He also worked as a marine engineer with Anglo Saxon Petroleum. The steam pipes in the boiler rooms were encased with asbestos, which when removed caused asbestos to float in the air.

The settlement in Swindon High Court is one of the first cases after the House of Lords ruled claim-ants could now sue two or more defendants in meso-thelioma cases.

Brigitte Chandler, of Old Town solicitors Charles Lucas and Marshall, who fought the case, said: "Mr Chapman worked for British Rail at its Swindon works from 1938 to 1946 as a fitter where locomotive boilers were plastered with white asbestos and this resulted in considerable asbestos dust in the air.

"Mr Chapman even remembered colleagues making snowballs with the asbestos and throwing them at each other.

"He was not given masks, protective clothing or warnings despite the fact that the dangers of asbestos were known.

"Both companies eventually accepted they were responsible for the death of Mr Chapman.

"They had originally tried to deny liability, but I applied to the judge at Swindon High Court who gave judgement on the basis that British Rail appeared to have no defence. Anglo Saxon Petroleum later conceded an obligation to pay 25 per cent of the damages."

Mr Chapman died on February 25, 2001, aged 77. Mrs Chapman, 75, now lives in Hertfordshire.

Earlier this month the Advertiser reported how mesothelioma is a ticking bomb for thousands of ex-railway workers and people who used to work in the building industry.

The mesothelioma support group, which was set up in September by Ms Chandler and Swindon Mayor, and former railway worker Councillor Derek Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) recently held its first meeting, which was attended by widows of former railway workers from across the country.

Giles Sheldrick