A WIDOW, who claims her husband was duped into taking part in gas experiments while working as a lab cleaner at Porton Down in the 1950s, is pursuing his case against the Ministry of Defence.

Annie Wise (67) from Moot Close, Downton has taken up the reins of a lawsuit begun two years ago in the hope of securing posthumous justice for her husband Tony, who died in April, aged 65,.

Mr Wise alleged that he was used as an unwitting guinea pig in gas chamber tests while he was working at the defence research establishment.

The outcome of the case could hold the key to the success of a number of outstanding cases against Porton Down scientists because, unlike most of the other alleged test subjects, Mr Wise was a civilian.

Mrs Wise said her husband only took up a casual job cleaning at Porton Down in 1956 to pay the bills while he got his building business established.

She said: "There wasn't a lot of work around then so he took a job cleaning the labs - but it was only temporary.

"When he wasn't busy, it was normal for him to wait where he had his coffee, in case he was needed to put on a gas mask and go into another room.

"A number of people, mostly soldiers, would go into a room with gas masks on. Then they would be told to take them off and walk around for a while before coming back out.

"He was told that if he ever got sick, there was no need to go to his own doctor because he could be treated at Porton Down.

"Tony just thought of it as part of his job."