A WIDOW has appealed for information from co-workers of her late husband after he died of a cancer linked to asbestos.

Robert Hanson Hey worked as a carpenter and a joiner for Cruden Construction in Grappenhall between 1973 and 1981, before retiring to Devon with his wife Maureen.

But Robert, known as Bob to his colleagues, died after contracting mesothelioma – a lung cancer that is thought to be caused by asbestos.

Maureen said: “Until my husband started to suffer from the symptoms of mesothelioma, he had been very fit and well.

“We had been making plans for the future, and I feel robbed of my future together with my husband.”

In his role at Knutsford Road-based Cruden Construction, Bob was involved in ripping out the interiors of buildings and refitting houses during renovation projects.

It is believed that he would have cut asbestos sheets to size on site before fixing them in place during his work on projects, which included flats in Warrington.

Maureen and daughter Rachel have now instructed specialist asbestos disease solicitors Novum Law to look into Bob’s case, and are appealing to his former co-workers for information.

Solicitor Andrew Stinchcombe said: “Mesothelioma is an incurable disease which causes significant suffering for its victims and their families.

“It doesn’t usually develop until many years after exposure to asbestos, and can take anything from 15 to 60 years.

“Unfortunately, thousands of people die each year as a result of just going about their everyday lives, working to make a living and being exposed to asbestos dust.

“We are appealing specifically to anybody who remembers Robert or who may have worked at Crudens around the same time who can provide information about the use of asbestos in the industry.

“Understandably, Maureen and Rachel were extremely upset to learn that his death was caused by exposure to asbestos – which was known to be dangerous during the time of his exposure – and we are really hoping that this appeal for information will help us find some answers for them.”

Anyone with information can call 0800 884 0555 or email astinchcombe@novumlaw.com.