A retired painter and decorator now battling lung cancer is appealing for former colleagues to come forward to help his legal case.

David Stanley, 78, worked at the huge Wellcome site in Dartford in the 1960s and 1970s, during which time he was exposed to the toxic dust.

He went on to suffer breathing problems and since retirement has been fighting mesothelioma, an incurable cancer known to be caused by exposure to asbestos.

Wellcome’s Dartford factory was finally shut in 2008, but Mr Stanley wants answers as to whether his employers could have done more to protect workers from the lethal substance.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Stanley, who lived in Gravesend and Stone before moving to Eastbourne, East Sussex, his son Keir said: “It’s shocking that something Dad did at work so long ago could come back now and rob him of his retirement.

“Since finding out about this condition, I was horrified to learn of the number of people that could have been exposed to asbestos earlier in their lives and may still not know that they also might be affected.”

Mr Stanley recalls workers mixing asbestos powder in baths before applying it to miles of piping throughout the site. He worked there between 1964 and 1973.

He has now employed the help of a law firm specialising in industrial disease claims to help him track down old colleagues in a bid to find out more.

Andrew James, of Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “The dangers of asbestos were well known to employers at the time of his employment.”

Anyone who has information that may help should contact Mr James on 020 7874 8458 or email ajames@hja.net