A Totton widow has pledged to fulfil a promise to her dying husband and continue his battle for justice after his death.

As Alexander Flanagan, 57, lay dying of asbestos related lung disease, he asked his wife Louise to take up his legal battle. Sadly two months ago the former ship's fitter passed away.

Now his family is carrying out his last wish and suing his former employers the VT Group for exposing him to asbestos, which they believe killed him.

Mrs Flanagan, who would have been celebrating her 31st wedding anniversary next month, said: "I am just following his wishes. It is what he wanted us to do. He would never forgive us if we let it go.

"I want Vosper to face their responsibilities. I just want them to admit what they have done and apologise for causing the death of my husband.

"He was very bitter because he was dying and it was someone else's fault. It should not have happened to him.

"He was so healthy. He was very fit and loved cycling, swimming, he lifted weights and never smoked or ate junk food."

"His big hope for the future was to be a granddad. That's what he was really looking forward to because he loved children. He spent a lot of time with nieces and nephews and was very much a family man."

His son Damon, 24, a musician said: "It's not about the money. It's about justice. Vosper had known about this for many years and they didn't change health and safety rules. Now people are dying and they are responsible."

An inquest in Southampton heard that the former ship's fitter died of a lung disease caused as a direct result of contact with asbestos.

Mr Flanagan of Westfield Road, Totton was convinced his fatal condition was caused by exposure to the toxic substance over the 20-years he worked for Harland and Wolf, now the VT Group.

Pathologist George Millward-Sadler told Southampton Coroner's Court how the father-of-two had "very high" levels of the substance in his lungs.

He said "There is an equivocal association between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure."

In May last year Mr Flanagan put the final touches to his legal case against the VT Group which could take more than three years to reach a settlement.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of death due to industrial disease.

A spokesman for the VT Group refused to comment.