A makeup consultant who contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to dust while the Boots store she worked in was undergoing construction work in 1975 has received a six-figure payout.

Recalling her time at Boots, Lynne Mitchell said:

“The building works lasted approximately six months and despite the workmen cleaning up regularly, the whole environment remained very dusty. It was important to create a good impression to customers and so I swept and dusted the makeup counters throughout the day."

At the beginning of 2016, Lynne started feeling pain in her side which persisted for months to come.

The following June she sought medical advice after losing weight and, following tests, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a form of cancer that usually develops decades after exposure to asbestos – at the age of 59.

Following her diagnosis, Lynne instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether her illness was linked to working at Boots. Following legal submissions, Boots UK Ltd admitted liability for her illness and agreed a six-figure settlement.

Laura Wilkinson, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Lynne, said:

“Lynne’s case vividly highlights the terrible legacy that asbestos has created. While some people may commonly associate asbestos with traditional, heavy industry, its use was widespread in public buildings such as shops, offices, schools and hospitals. What makes Lynne’s case more shocking is the relatively young age at which she was diagnosed and that the risks associated with even low level asbestos exposure should have been known by employers at the time of her exposure.”