FORMER colleagues of two men stricken by the deadly asbestos timebomb are being urged to come forward by solicitors seeking damages.

Malcolm Norman Black, of Harrogate, died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma in November 2012, aged 71, while Terry Hallas, of Skerne, near Driffield, was diagnosed with the same disease in October 2013 and is very unwell.

Howard Bonnett, of York solicitors Corries, who acts for Mr Black's widow Linda, said he wanted to find out where her late husband - who had had some memory issues and had difficulty recalling colleague names - was exposed to asbestos dust.

"Mr Black had a lengthy and successful career as a joiner which took him as far afield as Australia," he said.

"He worked in Harrogate between 1956 to 1965 starting at the age of 15 working for a firm near Crowe Road in the town. He then went on to work for a number of firms in and around Harrogate and York.

"Mr Black recalled cutting asbestos cement sheeting using both hand and circular saws, the latter creating a huge amount of dust as the deadly asbestos particles were dispersed into the air.

"Mr Black, who was not given any protective clothing or a mask, recalled being covered in the asbestos dust."

He urged anyone who worked alongside Mr Black or had any other information to email him at hsb@corries.co.uk or to call 01904 527464.

Mr Hallas' solicitor, Charlie Bradley, also of Corries, said his illness was believed to result from exposure to asbestos whilst working when younger for Robert B Massey & Co Ltd, a large garage and coach builders, in Market Weighton, which no longer existed.

"He was an upholsterer for them and believes he was exposed to asbestos in the form of brake and clutch linings in the workshop and asbestos sheeting also cut in the workshop," he said.

"Sadly he has vascular dementia so his memory isn’t good, hence the need for former colleagues, a number of whom came from York, to corroborate his story."

He urged anyone who worked with Mr Hallas to contact him on 01904 527473.