A WIDOW has filed a High Court claim for up to £200,000 following her husband's death from an asbestos linked cancer.

Barbara Brewer's solicitors filed the writ because Eric died, aged 66, from mesothelioma, a rare lung and abdomen cancer.

She is claiming between £150,000 and £200,000 for damages caused by 'negligence and/or breach of statutory duty' by Corus (UK) Ltd and Alstom Energy Ltd.

Mrs Brewer, from Lime Close in Rixton, nursed her husband, a lifelong resident of the village, during the six months from diagnosis until his death in January 2005.

She told the Warrington Guardian: "It was just one of those things - you just had to get on with life. He was fine for a long time. He kept going right up until a couple of days before he died.

"The only thing was he was in an awful lot of pain. The pain was the one thing they didn't seem able to control.

"He was a very brave man. We had a very active life together; we did an awful lot of walking, especially in the Welsh mountains. I have very happy memories of our time together.

"His ashes were scattered on top of Mount Snowdon."

The 68-year-old added: "He worked in the boiler house at British Steel in Irlam. He was heavily involved with the lagging.

"He said they even ate their sandwiches with asbestos on. He also worked for Alstom Energy Ltd. After he died we were approached by the asbestos support group. He started the legal proceedings not for himself, but mostly for financial security for me."

A spokesman for Alston Energy Ltd said: "We are not making any comment."

A spokesman for Corus Ltd, formerly British Steel, said: "This case is in the hands of the insurers and they have full control over it. It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment at this time."

sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk