Royal Mail settles asbestos claim out of court

An out-of-court settlement has been reached between the Royal Mail and the widow of a worker who she claims died as a result of workplace exposure to asbestos.

The organisation has paid £155,000 to Lesley Russell, who says husband Keith's mesothelioma was caused by the material's presence in the building where he used to work for the company, the Evening Post reports.

While the Royal Mail asserts there is not enough evidence to suggest it is responsible for "negligently exposing" her partner to asbestos, it has agreed to the deal.

He worked for the business between 1957 and 1992 at a site where there is information to suggest fibres of the substance were present.

Mrs Russell tells the news provider: "I would have liked them to admit liability because of everyone else - there are bound to have been others."

As part of the Health and Safety Executive's Asbestos: The Hidden Killer campaign, student tradesmen will be targeted with information on how to minimise the risks it presents.