A FORMER worker is waiting to hear whether he has won his fight for compensation after contracting a fatal asbestos-related disease.

Peter Harris has put forward a case that he was exposed to the deadly substance in the 1970s and subequently contracted mesothelioma – cancer of the lung lining. His former employer, the Ministry of Defence, said it will announce its decision in a matter of weeks.

Mr Harris, 58, was a labourer for the MoD in Chatham, Hoo and Lower Upnor from 1969 until he was made redundant in 1997.

Mr Harris, now of Kirby Road, Dartford, said: "This diagnosis has come as a terrible shock to me. Like many people who did labouring for the MoD, we were often covered in asbestos dust and weren’t aware of all the dangers we faced.

"I am now hoping I can fight this illness with the help of my wife, Shirley Ann, although I know there is no cure."

His solicitor, Paul Meehan of Pattinson & Brewer in London, said: "Mr Harris believes he was exposed many times to asbestos while working at Chatham, Lower Upnor and Lodge Hill. He and his colleagues had to remove pipes that were covered in asbestos and the working atmosphere became very dusty.

"They also had to strip asbestos sheeting from the roof, breaking them with a hammer before throwing them away. Again, this created a great deal of asbestos dust and Mr Harris and his colleagues were unaware of the dangers."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are still investigating Mr Harris’ claim."