A RESEARCHER who helped develop the blackcurrant drink Ribena was killed by her laboratory work, an inquest heard.

During 40 years of working with bunsen burners Audrey Green was exposed almost daily to asbestos fibres and they ultimately claimed her life.

She contracted an incurable lung cancer called "mesothelioma" from the asbestos string she used to wrap around test tubes in her laboratory.

Deputy Gloucestershire coroner David Dooley recorded a verdict that Mrs Green, of Reddings Lane, Staunton, near Coleford, died on January 2 from an industrial disease.

Her husband, Alan, said his wife graduated from London University before the war and worked initially for the Metal Box Company on the manufacture of cans. In 1946 she worked for H.W Carter at its Bristol laboratories as a research chemist.

"She helped develop and manufacture the blackcurrant drink Ribena," he said. "A factory was then built in Coleford to manufacture the drink and she moved to work there."

The couple met through their local church and they married in 1962. They never had children.

Mrs Green worked at the Coleford factory, latterly run by Beecham's until 1981 when she retired at 60.

Last year while accompanying him to a doctor's appointment, their GP commented that her health seemed to have deteriorated.

She underwent tests which showed she had fluid around her lungs and she spent four weeks in hospital.

After a week at home she was admitted again and was then told that she had mesothelioma with a life expectancy of 18 months.

Mr Dooley said Mrs Green was a "very clever lady" to have been accepted as a chemistry student at the University of London before the war.

A report from Mrs Green's GP surgery said she started suffering shortness of breath on inclines in September last year and was referred for a chest x-ray and then a CT scan.

Recording his verdict Mr Dooley added: "The asbestos string would dry and set off dust and she worked in that environment for up to 40 years."