A FORMER railway worker has received a substantial payout from British Rail after contracting the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma also known as Swindon disease.

Divorced father-of-two, David Hill, who now lives in Weston-super-Mare, received £182,844 compensation from his former employer. Mr Hill worked at the Swindon Works in the 1960s and was exposed to blue asbestos while working as an apprentice coach finisher, where he was required to scrape asbestos lagging off metalwork.

He was not given protective masks or clothing, or warned of the risk to his health.

Mr Hill, who has sought treatment in the United States and has had major surgery, has been told that he has only a short time to live.

The money covers the cost of nursing as well as some compensation for the pain and suffering he has suffered.