A RETIRED joiner suffering from an incurable cancer is appealing for former work colleagues to come forward to support a legal battle.

Geoffrey Dawson was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January and his solicitors are investigating whether it could have been caused by exposure to asbestos when he worked at Magnet Joinery in Keighley.

The 79-year-old, of Keighley, was a joiner at the firm, then in Royd Ings Avenue, from 1973 until his retirement in 2001.

Magnet, which has since moved its manufacturing out of the town, was once among Keighley's biggest employers.

Mr Dawson's case has been taken-up by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which says it is investigating working conditions at the company.

"Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer which causes so much distress for people like Geoff who worked in industries where asbestos was regularly used," said Nicola Handley, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office.

"Sadly, many employers did not do enough to manage the risks of asbestos exposure.

"We hope that former employees of Magnet will come forward to help us with our investigations.

"The company was an integral part of the town during the period it was based there and it's important that we now help Geoff and his family get answers."

Mr Dawson was found to have mesothelioma after he started to suffer from back pain and breathing problems.

"My wife Barbara and I were shocked and devastated by my diagnosis and are struggling to come to terms with it," he said.

"I have always been fit and healthy throughout my life and enjoyed an active lifestyle.

"I never knew that the work I did so many years ago could affect my life now. I can no longer do the things I used to enjoy and I'm very concerned about what the future holds for us.

"I really hope my former work colleagues and employees of Magnet Joinery will now help the team at Irwin Mitchell and provide any information about the conditions that I worked in."

Magnet did not want to comment about the case.

Anyone with information is asked to e-mail Nicola.Handley@IrwinMitchell.com or call 0113 220 6233.