A former York railway labourer could be one of the youngest people ever to have contracted a fatal asbestos-related lung disease.

Mesothelioma sufferer Colin Ridley, 35, of St James' Court, claims he was exposed to the deadly dust while working in a refitting yard at the ABB Carriageworks in 1990.

He believes his agency employers were negligent in letting him work among asbestos at the Holgate Road factory without protective clothing and is now preparing legal action.

But he cannot remember the details of his employment agency and hopes former colleagues can come forward to help him make a compensation claim against them.

Scores of workers at the Holgate Road yard have died over the years of illnesses such as mesothelioma, caused by inhaling the dangerous dust.

But the majority of sufferers have been aged over 50, with their exposure to asbestos primarily in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, before health and safety procedures were tightened up.

Mr Ridley, who has already lost one lung through the disease, said: "I had a few jobs in and around York, including working at a garden centre and various bar jobs, but I was never exposed to asbestos there.

"When I was labouring on a refit in a paint shop at ABB Coachworks, my work involved clearing lots of dust.

"I have since learned that the pits where we worked, which were sunk into the ground, probably entered areas where lots of asbestos had been dumped years before. We weren't given masks or goggles to wear."

Following ABB's closure in the mid-1990s, many tons of soil were dumped across the site to cover over buried waste asbestos and prevent further risk of exposure to the dust.

Mr Ridley said that if people who worked with him could help provide statements to describe working conditions, he could make a compensation claim and give financial help to his girlfriend and parents.

Former carriageworks employee and asbestos campaigner Paul Cooper, who has been monitoring asbestos-related deaths in York for 27 years, said this was the youngest case he had heard of.

He said: "Sadly it does not come as a surprise to me, but it's shocking I must admit. For a young guy of 35 it's just horrendous, it's very sad indeed."

Solicitor Ian Bailey, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "This is a particularly tragic case because Colin is so young and so very ill. He has already had one lung removed and the prognosis is poor."

Mr Bailey said Mr Ridley could only remember encountering dust at the carriageworks and other witnesses were needed to describe the conditions to make a successful claim. Mr Ridley worked at ABB York between October 1990 and February 1991. Anyone who worked at the company at that time is asked to call 0870 1500 100.

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, September 18, 2003