THE devastated family of a former Chard butcher who died from an incurable asbestos-related cancer have launched a search for his ex-colleagues.

Paul Kingsnorth died in November from mesothelioma and his members of his family would like speak to former workers at two Chard meat processing plants.

It is believed that Paul, who lived in Coles Place and died aged 66, came into contact with asbestos while working at South West Meat –now part of the Kerry Group – at Millfield Industrial Estate and Hygrade Foods in Furnham Road, which is now closed.

Paul died just four weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma – an aggressive cancer which affects the lining of the lungs – leaving his family devastated by his tragic and untimely death.

At the inquest into his death at East Somerset Coroner’s Court last month, senior coroner Tony Williams concluded that Paul had died as a result of industrial disease.

Paul’s son Russell said: “My dad started working in the meat industry after leaving school at the age of 15 and was still working in full-time employment in the meat industry at the time of his diagnosis.

“He was a fit and healthy 66-year-old with absolutely no intention of retiring when this disease came on so suddenly and cruelly cut his life short. My brother and I are still in complete shock and can’t believe he’s gone.”

Russell and the rest of the family have now instructed specialist asbestos disease lawyers at Novum Law to help piece together Paul’s working conditions and investigate how he came to be exposed to asbestos dust.

He added: “We think it is likely that Dad came into contact with asbestos as he cut and prepared meat in the processing plants where he spent much of his time.

Many of these old factory buildings had asbestos lagging on the pipe work.”

The family is appealing to anyone who worked in the factories in the 1980s and 1990s who may have useful information.

Helen Grady, an expert asbestos disease solicitor at the law firm, said: “This is a difficult case because Paul was not directly working with asbestos himself. All his working life he was employed in factories and butcher shops where it is likely there were asbestos lagged pipes and asbestos in the roofs.

“His case highlights the dangers of asbestos and how important it is that wherever it is located it should be properly encapsulated and, if possible, safely removed.”

Anyone who can help can contact Helen Grady on freephone 0800-884 0555 or email hgrady@novumlaw