A WREXHAM grandad who spent more than thirty years working in the building industry died as a result of his trade, an inquest has heard.

Colin Heath, 61, who shared a home with his brother Kelvin on New House Avenue in Llay, died on June 19 last year after battling pulmonary fibrosis for more than a decade.

Joanne Lees, Assistant Coroner for North East Wales, told the hearing at Wrexham Guildhall that Mr Heath, one of six siblings, had a history of ill health after working in the manufacturing of concrete since the 1970's. She said it was most likely the case that safety equipment was simply not provided to employees at that particular time, as the risks posed by such products was not known.

She said: "The nature of cement manufacturing would create plenty of dust, and exposure to those conditions over a period of many years has resulted in occupational asthma."

Mr Heath, a much loved father of Craig, who had three children himself, was described as being "a happy go lucky person and everyone who knew him, liked him" and was found unresponsive and "cold to the touch" in his bedroom by his brother shortly after 7am on June 19.

His brother told the hearing that due to Mr Heath's condition deteriorating, a stair lift had been fitted in the property less than a week before he died.

In reaching a conclusion of death a result of industrial disease, Ms Lees said: "Many changes have been made in the building industry since the 1970's, mainly due to knowledge being acquired over the years of the dangers and risks posed by working in such environments."

The family told the court they do not intend to pursue any sort of legal compensation as many of the companies Mr Heath worked for in his life have long since ceased to operate.