The case may stop future claims

The case of 10 men with pleural plaques - lung scarring caused by asbestos exposure - is being heard at the High Court sitting in Manchester.

Kenneth Johnson, 58, from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, is one of the 10.

They say they are worried about getting more serious chest diseases. But insurance firms want to stop payments.

The men say that having the scarring causes anxiety for those who know they have been exposed to asbestos and could contract serious diseases such as mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs.

Mr Johnston told the court on Thursday that although the plaques caused little pain, they caused anxiety and were "an indication that something more serious could occur".

'Not injuries'

Insurers Norwich Union and Zurich argue that the plaques are not injuries and the anxiety stems from exposure to asbestos and not the plaques.

If the judge, Mr Justice Holland, rules in favour of the insurance company, compensation payments to people with pleural plaques - about �25m a year - could be stopped.

Mr Johnston worked for Newcastle-based NEI International Consortium Ltd between 1975 and 1979 and 1980 and 1985.

The court heard he was exposed to asbestos, and in 2001 was diagnosed as suffering from pleural plaques.

He told the court: "I know that I have asbestos in the lungs and it makes me a candidate to getting something more serious."

Frank Burton QC, for the claimants, said that pleural plaques were "a marker of asbestos exposure" and "set time running" for sufferers.