A GRIEVING Keighley woman whose husband died from asbestos-related cancer has issued a heartfelt plea for help in a bid to bring some closure.

Former lab worker John Grebbell lost his battle against mesothelioma last December, aged 78.

Now his widow, Janet, is desperately seeking answers over how her husband contracted the illness and whether it could have been prevented.

She is being represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is keen to hear from anyone who worked with Mr Grebbell at British Petroleum's research centre in Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, in the early 1960s.

Before he died, Mr Grebbell told his family asbestos had been used to lag pipework at the site.

"John was a much-loved father and grandfather and the whole family still misses him so much," said Mrs Grebbell, 57.

"We are all simply trying to come to terms with the loss at the moment.

"Whenever the issue of asbestos was raised, John would talk about his time at BP.

"The diagnosis of mesothelioma was hugely frustrating for him, as he had looked after himself throughout his life. As a result, he was devastated when he fell ill.

"While nothing can change what has happened, we hope this legal action will provide some closure and give us the answers we feel we deserve regarding how John developed the illness.

"Any help in our fight for justice would be hugely appreciated."

Mr Grebbell suffered from pleurisy for several years, and began to increasingly have problems with breathlessness when walking.

The couple cut short a visit to Verona to see their daughter last October when his health worsened, and he was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer which affects the lining of the lung – shortly afterwards.

Lucy Andrews – a specialist asbestos lawyer at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office, who is representing Mrs Grebbell – said: "This case is yet another terrible reminder of the huge consequences that asbestos exposure can have, with the symptoms of mesothelioma only becoming apparent many years after initial contact with the deadly material.

"John's family is understandably devastated by its loss but remains keen for answers regarding how the illness emerged and whether he could have been better protected.

"Any information that anyone may have regarding his time working at BP in the early 1960s could ultimately prove invaluable to our legal case."

Anybody able to help is asked to e-mail lucy.andrews@irwinmitchell.com or call 0113 3946782.

The Keighley News contacted BP, but it declined to comment.