A FORMER nanny and chemical factory worker died from prolonged exposure to asbestos, an inquest heard yesterday.

Beatrice Bainbridge, 84, of Neville House Residential Home, Darlington, worked as a nanny before becoming a pipe insulator at Darlington Chemical Works in 1939.

The inquest, at Darlington police station, heard that Ms Bainbridge worked at the factory for almost 25 years in total, and was in contact with asbestos.

She was asthmatic and suffered numerous falls while she was at the nursing home, the inquest heard.

She died at the residential home on March 28, last year. Dr Ceri Williams, consultant pathologist at Darlington Memorial Hospital, told the inquest that Ms Bainbridge had died from asbestosis, due to prolonged exposure to asbestos.

South West Durham and Darlington Coroner Kenneth Howe recorded a verdict of death caused by industrial disease.