A widow of a former joiner at Chatham Dockyard has won £205k in damages from the Ministry of Defence after her husband died from mesothelioma.

The disease is a condition related to exposure to the deadly dust asbestos.

Norma Blease, who no longer lives in the area, brought the claim after her husband, Colin, died in March 2013.

Her solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall, said a number of her clients had died or developed asbestos -related diseases after working at the dockyard.

In the case of Mr and Mrs Blease, she was able to obtain documents from the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust which proved Mr Blease worked there in the 1950s.

Ms Chandler, said:“There was further evidence in Mr Blease’s Army record as he joined the Army after leaving the dockyard,

“This was very useful in terms of proof – especially when the person dies so many years after coming into contact with asbestos.”

Damages were paid for the pain and suffering Mr Blease went through and for the loss of income to his wife.

Mr Blease was a joiner at Chatham from 1951-57.

Asbestos sheets were regularly cut in the joinery workshops and to clad bulkheads on the ships.

“Joiners had to go on ships for re-fits and remove all the wooden furniture, panels and bunks so they could access pipework.

“Asbestos dust would be floating through the ships and left to lie around.”

The Ministry of Defence initially denied liability, saying they had no records of Mr Blease being employed at Chatham.