Barry Welch believed he was exposed to asbestos as a child

Barry Welch, 32, from Leicester, died on 27 April 2004 after an 11-month battle against mesothelioma.

It is thought he was exposed to asbestos fibres brought home on stepfather Roger Bugby's work overalls.

In the 1970s, Mr Bugby worked as a scaffolder at a power station in Kent, the county where Mr Welch grew up.

The inquest was told Mr Bugby would return from work at Kingsnorth Power Station covered in asbestos dust on his overalls.

Dusty clothes

Before changing out of his overalls he would relax and his step-son often sat on his lap.

He (Mr Bugby) was absolutely covered in dust. I did not realise it was asbestos. I just thought it was a dusty job Kate Bugby

"I did not have the facilities to wash Roger's clothes every day," his widow Kate Bugby said.

"I would shake his clothes because they were always very dusty, either in the kitchen or in the yard.

"He (Mr Bugby) was absolutely covered in dust. I did not realise it was asbestos. I just thought it was a dusty job."

A number of previous mesothelioma cases have involved women who have been exposed to asbestos while washing their husbands' contaminated work clothes.

The case of Mr Welch is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Mr Welch, from Braunstone, in Leicester, left a wife, Claire, and three daughters, Natasha, 12, Samantha, 10, and seven-year-old Letitia.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs. - and the only known cause in the UK is exposure to asbestos.

When he died, Mr Welch's lungs were twice their normal weight because of the congestion of blood and the cancer had spread to his liver.

The cancer's effects on lymph glands in his chest made it inoperable, the inquest heard.

New radical surgery was considered for Mr Welch, but his condition was too far advanced, said Dr Clive Muatero, consultant oncologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Asked whether Mr Welch's illness was caused by his exposure to asbestos as a child, the doctor added: "I think that would be a reasonable supposition."