A 78-year-old who has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer believes it could be linked to her former career.

Lesley Smee worked in the offices at Marks and Spencer in Gravesend and north London between 1965 and 1973.

She started working at the department store in Fore Street, Edmonton, aged 21 as a shopping assistant before making her way up to office manager.

The Gravesend resident said she recalled it was an old building and thinks it is likely repair and maintenance work happened when she was there.

In 1970, Mrs Smee moved to the Gravesend branch in New Road, before it closed down, and worked in the office.

She left three years later when she decided to start a family with her husband, Graham. They have now been married for more than 55 years.

The former Marks and Spencer employee was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, in July last year, and contacted solicitors Leigh Day to investigate a legal claim.

She believes there have been past cases of people being diagnosed with the same cancer after having been exposed to asbestos in the company's stores.

'We have the most rigorous policies in place to ensure that our stores continue to be safe...'

An M&S spokesman said: "We have always had policies in place that were the best they could be based on the knowledge of the time, but like many other retailers and organisations with a large property portfolio dating back to the post-war era, asbestos has historically been used as a building material in times when the consequences of its everyday use were still unknown.

"We are confident that we have the most rigorous policies in place to ensure that our stores continue to be safe for our colleagues and customers."

Mrs Smee is now appealing for information to assist in this claim and asking any former colleagues to get in touch.

Leigh Day solicitor Andrew Cooper said: "We know that most people who develop an asbestos condition have come into contact with asbestos during their work.

"Lesley worked between 1959 and 1973, when the use of asbestos products in buildings, including offices, was common.

"We are appealing for anyone who worked in the same buildings as Lesley in the 1960s and 1970s, or anyone who has any information about the presence of asbestos in these buildings, to come forward.

"Any details, no matter how small, could be very important to the legal claim."

Prior to working for Marks and Spencer, Mrs Smee worked for Trinity Finance, in Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, between 1959 to 1962.

In 1962/63, she went on to work in the office for Sangamo Weston, a company which produced measuring instruments, also based in Great Cambridge Road.

Mrs Smee also worked for Sainsbury’s in Enfield town centre between 1963 and 1965.

Anyone with information that could help can contact Mr Cooper via email at ACooper@leighday.co.uk.

Mrs Smee's appeal comes just before Global Asbestos Awareness Week which runs from April 1 and 7.