His former employers, British Rail and Swindon Pressings, have agreed to settle the case before it went to trial, following representations from Mr Allen’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of Charles Lucas & Marshall who has been bringing asbestos claims against companies for 30 years.

Miss Chandler said: “Due to Mr Allen’s illness we had to progress this claim very quickly. We were able to obtain early judgment against the defendants who finally agreed to settle the night before the trial, when the damages would have been assessed.”

Mr Allen, aged 70 of Wootton Basset, Swindon worked for British Rail from July 1954 until April 1961 apart for two years between 1958 and 1960. Over the course of his employment he worked in a number of different places where he was exposed to asbestos.

This included the notorious Seven Shop where lethal blue asbestos was sprayed on to the coaches. He had to fix brackets at the top of coach frames and work near pipe fitters that were lagging pipes with asbestos. He worked in the Fifteen Shop where he had to plate bending metal and where there were other people working with asbestos on the welding.

Mr Allen also worked in the Twenty Four Shop where he worked on coaches containing pipes lagged with asbestos. Generally he worked near steam pipes that were covered in asbestos lagging which often burst or leaked, necessitating the removal of the asbestos lagging when he was near by.

Between 1961 and 1998 he worked for Pressed Steel Company at its premises in Swindon, now known as Swindon Pressings Ltd, as a Press Operator in the C Building – in which there were heating pipes lagged with asbestos and a boiler lagged with asbestos.

“Large bags of asbestos were kept in the stores of this building which were distributed by employees using their bare hands,” says Brigitte Chandler. “Asbestos was used in clutches and brakes and Mr Allen was exposed to asbestos every time he turned over a press.”

From 1972 –1998 Mr Allen worked as an engineer which again took him onto the shop floor where he was exposed to asbestos.

Ms Chandler added that it was welcome news that British Rail and Swindon Pressings agreed to settle the case out of court as it meant Mr Allen did not have to attend a court hearing which would have been difficult for him as he is currently unwell.

For further information please contact Brigitte Chandler on 01793 511055 or brigitte.chandler@clmlaw.co.uk