YORK'S asbestos timebomb is ticking again, with three former carriageworks employees thought to have died this year of diseases caused by the deadly dust.

Three inquests are pending involving ex-factory staff who have died of suspected asbestos-related illnesses.

They involve Albert Appleyard, of Chudleigh Road, off Leeman Road; Jeffrey Sanderson, of Almsford Road, Acomb; and John Malton, of Thoresby Road, Acomb.

Their deaths come after hopes had been rising that the worst of the carriageworks' asbestos legacy might finally be over.

Scores of former employees have died over the years of illnesses such as mesothelioma, caused by inhalation of dangerous asbestos dust at the factory in Holgate Road, which closed down in the 1990s.

However, earlier this year an Evening Press analysis of York inquests over the past five years revealed a sharp drop in numbers.

Up to half a dozen or more such inquests were held in the mid-1990s, but there was only one each in both 2000 and 2001.

But York chest consultant John White urged caution, saying he would love to think York was seeing the end of such cases, but he suspected there might be more in future.

Mr Malton's son, Steven, told the Evening Press that his father worked on the railways for more than 40 years, including 27 years in the carriageworks, and was in regular contact with asbestos-containing material. He retired in 1983.

Steven, 46, who lived with his father - widowed in 1994 - also followed him into the businesses in the early 1970s when the dangers of asbestos were beginning to become apparent.

Steven said: "Dad was an electrician and he really enjoyed work.

"But they just didn't know the dangers. They used to have snowball fights with it (asbestos) and all that - they just didn't know.

"When I started in 1973, that's around the time they found out the dangers and they put crosses on the carriages that had asbestos in them.

"As far as I know I didn't really have any contact with it.

"There's a few lads that dad worked with who have become ill over the years and died.

"It wasn't often that dad was ill. He never had a day off work. He was only diagnosed at the beginning of 2000 with asbestosis and he was 81 when he died."

- The Evening Press attempted unsuccessfully to contact relatives of Mr Sanderson and Mr Appleyard.

Updated: 11:45 Thursday, September 12, 2002