A retired Royal Navy serviceman died from cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, an inquest heard.

John Butcher, who lived on a boat in St Osyth creek, died of the industrial disease malignant mesothelioma on April 6.

The Chelmsford inquest heard the 84-year-old divorcee had spent his childhood in Canning Town, living near asbestos industries.

When the Second World War was declared he joined the Navy as an apprentice stoker where he served in ship boiler rooms, which the inquest heard were heavily lagged with asbestos.

Eight years ago he began to have difficulty breathing and was later diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.

He was admitted to Clacton District Hospital on March 30 and died one week later at Essex County Hospital in Colchester.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died as a result of the rare form of cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

Essex coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray, said: "In the light of that evidence I shall record a verdict that he died of the industrial disease of mesothelioma."