More than 1,800 people have died in Scotland since 1997 as a result of working with asbestos, according to a report released by the STUC.

Scottish trade unionists want an international ban on use of the fibre and full compensation for victims.

The report shows the scale of the problem across Scotland and highlights West Dunbartonshire as having the worst death rate per head of population from asbestos.

Many became ill years after they came into contact with asbestos in shipyards and factories and it has been predicted the number of deaths will double by 2020.

Proud heritage

The naturally-occurring fibre was often used as a fire retardant, but it causes the rare cancer of the lung, mesothelioma, as well as other forms of the disease.

STUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said: "Scotland's proud heritage as a shipbuilding and manufacturing nation has, unfortunately, had a terrible down side in the thousands upon thousands of workers and their families who have suffered and died through exposure to asbestos.

"The STUC is 100% committed to working alongside the TUC to ensure that every victim receives full compensation for their suffering, and future generations do not suffer in the same way as those who went before."

The STUC is calling for a global ban on asbestos, a public register of the asbestos which is still in so many buildings and more help for suffers, including full and fair compensation.

Shipbuilding firms

Asbestos has been outlawed across the European Union for two years but the STUC says more needs to be done to help victims and prevent people in countries where it has not been banned from being exposed to the fibre.

The fight for compensation for victims hit problems when the company handling their claims - Chester Street Insurance Holdings - went into liquidation earlier this year.

The insurance company, which provided insurance to Clyde shipbuilding firms such as John Browns, said it could not pay claims worth up to �100,000 to Scottish shipyard workers.

It is estimated up to 5,000 ex-shipyard workers could be suffering from asbestos-related diseases.

Insurance company

Clydebank is the town with the highest death rate from asbestos poisoning in the UK.

Clydeside Action on Asbestos says it is going to fight the insurance company all the way.

It says Chester Street has transferred its assets and then deliberately gone into liquidation.

Asbestos-related diseases can take 30 years to develop and doctors have warned the number of deaths from these illnesses has not yet reached its peak.