FIRST Great Western has pledged £500 to help pay for a memorial garden to Swindon's hundreds of victims of asbestos-related illnesses.

The rail firm, which has 2,500 employees, follows the example of Swindon Door Services, a company with six employees, which has also pledged £500.

The Advertiser launched an appeal last week to raise up to £10,000 to pay for the restoration of a rose garden in Queen's Park.

The garden would remember the hundreds of former Great Western Railway works employees who have died from a form of cancer called mesothelioma because they were put in contact with deadly asbestos dust.

First Great Western spokeswoman Elaine Wilde said: "We receive many requests for financial sponsorship as well as free or discounted tickets and although our budget for community support is reasonable it is not unlimited.

"We work to ensure that we help organisations throughout our operating area, from London Paddington to Penzance, Swansea, Hereford and including major towns such as Bristol, Cardiff, Reading and Plymouth.

"As I am sure you are aware there are vast numbers of good causes within that area and we try to be fair to all.

"In normal circumstances your appeal would not fit with the criteria or our community support policy.

"However as a gesture of goodwill we would like to offer £500 towards the cost of the project."

First Great Western is part of FirstGroup which posted profits in 2001 of £56.2 million.

It is one of a number of organisations contacted by the Evening Advertiser which could be said to have a moral responsibility to contribute to the appeal because they have benefited from the sacrifice made by former Great Western railway works employees.

The others include the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village, Swindon Council, which runs the museum Steam, and legal firm Thring Townsend which has sought compensation for former railway workers and their families.

Newsquest, the publisher of the Evening Advertiser, will also be contributing towards the fund.

Owner of Swindon Door Services, John Coyle, from South Marston, came forward with his donation the day after the Advertiser appeal was launched on March 27.

His father was employed at the railway works and he had a friend who died of mesothelioma.

He said: "I think it's the most worthy cause, to remember the people who have died as a result of working to build up our community."