A WOMAN from Basingstoke died at Basingstoke hospital in February because of exposure to asbestos during her career working on an industrial site, an inquest has heard.

Mavis Rosina Mary Foster passed away on February 13, 2020 after spending over a month in hospital.

Winchester Coroners' Court heard on Monday that Ms Foster left school aged 15 and joined Nathan's as a cutter in East London, where she was exposed to asbestos.

The post-mortem carried out at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital by Dr Angus Carnegy found that the likely cause of death was frailty of old age and malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin tissue (mesothelium) that lines the lung, chest wall, and abdomen.

In a statement read out to the court, daughter, Debbie Martin, said: "My mother left school aged 15 and joined Nathan's as a cutter in Forest Gate in London.

"Asbestos came from ironing tables, making industrial clothing and my mother worked there until 1971."

Summing up, area coroner, Mr Jason Pegg, said: "It seems to me the exposure to asbestos was in Mavis's earlier working life.

"She developed mesothelioma as a cutter where she was exposed to asbestos.

"My conclusion is it was an industrial disease, but for Mavis it was developed in the 1950s.

"You have my sincere condolences for your mother and grandmother, and am sure you will always treasure those memories you have of her."