The death of a Telford man was directly related to the massive fire at MoD Donnington in 1983 when asbestos fibres were released into the atmosphere, a coroner ruled today.

Richard Derek George, known as Ron, of Weyman Road, Wellington, died at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital on June 8.

Coroner Michael Gywnne, recorded a verdict of death from an industrial disease.

The Wellington inquest heard Mr George, 81, worked at the Donnington military storage depot as a mail messenger at the time of the fire.

His cause of death was recorded as mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, due to asbestos exposure.

Mr Gywnne said the Donnington blaze caused large amounts of debris, mainly charred asbestos paper, whi- ch formed the outer metal roof covering of the MoD building, to be released.

He said: “His asbestos exposure occurred in 1983. The length of time between then and now is quite typical of growth of the disease.

“His death was directly related to the fire at Donnington as he was employed there at that time.”

Mr George’s widow Dorothy, who also worked at the depot, said her husband had been at work on the day of the fire, but she had been on a day’s leave. “My husband said there had been a tremendous fire that covered everywhere,” she said. “As far as I can remember we both went back into work as normal the next day.”