A gardener who developed a deadly asbestos-related disease has won £205,000 in compensation from his former employers.

Mr Gaffney, 57, worked for the University of Liverpool during the 1980s looking after the grounds. He used to take his lunch breaks in the boiler room, which had asbestos insulation.

Two years ago, he was diagnosed with the incurable disease mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, and was given only a short time to live. He recently underwent an operation, which it is hoped will give him a little more time with his family.

Mr Gaffney had received no warning from his employers about the dangers of exposure to asbestos and so had no idea that eating his lunch in the boiler room could lead to him developing a deadly disease many years later. After bringing a personal injury claim against them, he received £205,000 in compensation.

Exposure to asbestos can cause a range of diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Mesothelioma can develop many years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Particularly at risk of contracting the disease are those who have worked on building sites or in power stations or shipyards.

Employers who fail to protect workers from exposure to toxins or carcinogens risk action being taken against them by those whose health is damaged as a consequence.