THE OWNER of a Swindon small business has pledged the first £500 towards a mesothelioma memorial for the town.

John Coyle, of South Marston, says the Evening Advertiser's campaign to remember the victims of the disease is the most worthy cause he can think of.

The owner of Swindon Door Services today wrote out a cheque for £500 towards the appeal, which aims to raise between £5,000 and £10,000 for a memorial.

It will honour the thousands of Swindon people who have died or will die from mesothelioma, which is also known as the Swindon Cancer because it has claimed so many local lives.

Most of the victims of the disease worked at Swindon's famous railway works, where many staff were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.

No-one suspected the material might be so dangerous at the time boilermakers regularly crawled into boilers lined with asbestos, and staff threw asbestos 'snowballs' at one another.

Mr Coyle, who employs six staff at his premises in Maxwell Street, says that like many Swindonians he has strong personal links with the railway works.

"My father spent quite a few years working for the railways, and although he didn't die from mesothelioma, a friend of mine did," 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."

The Evening Advertiser launched its memorial campaign on Monday, determined to put matters right for the victims' families.

It has already received support from the leader of Swindon Council, Coun Mike Bawden, and the town's next mayor, Coun Stan Pajak.

Mr Pajak has suggested turning a disused plot of land in Queens Park into a memorial garden, where people bereaved by mesothelioma can sit in peace and remember their loved ones.

Former mayor and former railwayman Arthur Archer has suggested placing a memorial at Swindon's Steam Museum, next to plaques remembering the Swindon railwaymen who died in two world wars.

On Tuesday, the Adver wrote to rail company First Great Western, MacArthur Glen, the current occupiers of the railway works, Swindon Council, industrial injury solicitors Thring Townsend, and the railway works' main union, the TGWU, asking them all to contribute to the appeal.

Relatives of the victims of mesothelioma have also backed the campaign some pledging to contribute their own money towards a lasting memorial.

Do you back the Evening Advertiser's mesothelioma campaign? Telephone Andy Blizzard on 01793 528144 ext 338 or e-mail ablizzard@newswilts.co.uk