THE widow of a former York Carriageworks employee killed by asbestos told today how delays in holding an inquest meant her nightmare was still dragging on.

Jeffrey Sanderson, who worked for 37 years at the trainmaking factory in Holgate Road, died of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma last June.

But a date has still not been fixed for his York inquest.

His widow, Eileen, says the last few months of Jeffrey's life, as he battled against his long and painful illness, were a nightmare. "It was a terrible year," she said.

She felt the nightmare would continue until the hearing had taken place, and she could begin to put the trauma behind her.

Her comments come a year after the Evening Press revealed that numerous inquests were waiting to be heard in York, and Coroner Donald Coverdale was tackling the backlog.

Speaking after being approached by the paper, Mrs Sanderson said she had originally expected her husband's inquest to be held by last Christmas - as happened with two other carriageworks asbestos victims whose inquests took place in December.

When she telephoned Mr Coverdale about the delays earlier this year, he replied on February 7 that he hoped to be fixing a date "very shortly," adding: "But at the moment, I am just waiting for a letter confirming details of his employment with British Rail Carriageworks."

After she contacted him again last month, he said he was very sorry it could still not be held. He had the necessary details from British Rail, but he now awaited the outcome of correspondence with another company for whom Mr Sanderson had formerly worked.

Mrs Sanderson said she might have understood a delay if her husband's medical condition had been in dispute, but could not understand why it had taken so long simply to find employment record details.

The York Coroner's Charter states that he will endeavour to hold inquests at the earliest possible date, and that most take place in York within six months of a person's death, although factors outside the Coroner's control can cause delay.

Mr Coverdale said today it had been essential for him to fully investigate details of Mr Sanderson's employment record. There had been greater complications than there normally were with former Carriageworks employees.

He said he could not hold the inquest until he was satisfied all the evidence was available.

"It has been an active file. I am not sitting on the case," he said, adding that many inquests were held within six months of a person's death.

lHave you any concerns about delays in holding inquests in North Yorkshire? Contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or email to mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 11:32 Monday, April 07, 2003