CONNIE Spence never worked directly with asbestos but York Carriageworks employees – who did – regularly used to visit the shop where she worked, covered in dirt and dust.

Now an inquest has heard how Connie, 80, of Acomb, became one of the four latest victims of York’s asbestos timebomb – and how deadly dust from the workers’ overalls may have been to blame.

Her husband Norman, who was married to Connie for almost 60 years, said she lived and worked around the Carriageworks for most of her life.

It was possible she came into contact with asbestos in the dirt and dust from workmen’s overalls.

She could also have been exposed during renovation work at a retail store where she also worked.

“Mesothelioma is a horrible illness, and it was horrendous having to watch Connie’s condition deteriorate, knowing there was nothing we could do to help her,” he said.

“It makes it even worse to know that she never worked directly with asbestos. We were absolutely heartbroken when Connie was told she had contracted mesothelioma. She had become short of breath for a few weeks, but we expected it to be a chest infection or something similar.”

Solicitors Irwin Mitchell said another inquest heard how Second World War veteran Alfred Barker, from New Earswick, who died from malignant mesothelioma, aged 86, believed he was exposed to asbestos directly while working as a builder for Sorrell Ltd, of Layerthorpe, from 1946 until the mid-1960s.

The firm said further inquests heard how Stanley Gee, from York, who died aged 71 from mesothelioma, believed he was exposed to asbestos while working as a plumber at JH Shouksmiths Limited in the 1960s, and another man, a painter who spent most of his career at the Rowntree’s factory in York, also died of the disease.

Industrial illness expert and solicitor Ian Toft, who represented the families of all four victims, said asbestos had long been associated with heavy industry, including sites such as the York Carriage Works.

“But sadly, we are seeing an increasing number of people being affected who have not worked directly with asbestos, such as those like Connie,” he said.