Exposure to asbestos caused the death of hospital worker from Watford, an inquest has heard.

Barbara Fiona Fargus, who lived at King Edward Road, Oxhey, died on September 14 at the Peace Hospice from cancer.

The 54-year-old worked in a London hospital for about two years and during that period building alterations took place which exposed her to asbestos, Hertfordshire Coroner's Court heard.

Senior Coroner Edward Thomas said: "There is clear evidence that the cause of the death was stage three biphasic malignant mesothelioma and expert opinion presented to the court suggests that the known contributor was exposure to asbestos."

Additional evidence presented to the court showed there had been no asbestos exposure during the rest of her career.

Mr Thomas said: "Keeping with what we know of stage three biphasic malignant mesothelioma, that it does progress quite quickly, some times leading to death, I am satisfied from the evidence that she died of industrial disease."