The Imco tower is thought to be the source of the outbreak

The hearing in Taunton heard that the source of the outbreak was thought to be a water cooling tower at the Imco Plastics factory on the edge of Glastonbury.

Rita Spencer, 68, of Ashcot, Michael Carroll, 72, of Street, and Virginia Wall, 76, of Glastonbury, all died after contracting the disease in September 1998.

They had all visited the same B&Q garden centre next to the Imco factory in the run up to their deaths, the jury was told.

Speaking outside the inquest, Mr Carroll's daughter, Anne Priddice, said: "We are pleased. It's what we wanted.

Michael Carroll was 72

"We can move on now and remember dad and think finally we have something."

A total of 12 people who visited Glastonbury in September 1998 contracted the disease - eight made a full recovery, one is still disabled and three died.

Manslaughter charges against Imco and its managing director Michael Lewis were stayed earlier this year after Mr Lewis was judged unfit to stand trial.

A court will pass sentence is due to be passed in November after guilty pleas were recorded on two counts of breaching health and safety legislation by failing to maintain the water cooling system at the factory.

After the jury's verdicts, coroner Michael Rose expressed his sympathy to the families of the dead.

He said steps were being taken to ensure more Health and Safety Executive inspections of potential legionella sites were carried out.

On Tuesday, the jury heard evidence from an Imco maintenance manager who claimed that his managing director constantly ignored health and safety warnings about the tower.