Brenda Clark’s husband was exposed to asbestos when he was working as a ceiling fixer for the Anderson Construction Company.

James Clark fitted asbestos tiles at Victoria underground station, Standard Telephone Cables Company and at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage.

His work involved drilling holes into asbestos tiles.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2007 and his former employer admitted liability for exposing him to the substance. He died a year after the diagnosis.

Her solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and one of the country’s leading specialists in asbestos-related law, said: “Asbestos was widely used in buildings in the 1960s and 70s with workers often given little protection.

“As a consequence we are now seeing a rise in the number of people from the industry diagnosed with mesothelioma.”

According to the Health and Safety Executive, approximately 4,000 deaths are attributable to asbestos each year.