THE consort of the former Mayor of Droitwich died from an asbestos-related cancer, an inquest heard.

Brian Kitts died at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester after developing mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the lungs. The retired 66-year-old was the consort of former mayor Jan Bolton.

At an inquest in Stourport-on-Severn Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said: "It's confirmed by the post mortem examination the lungs contained occasional asbestos bodies."

He said Mr Kitts, of Hurdis Road, Shirley, Birmingham, was exposed to the material between 1959 and 1963, when he worked for a building company, and again between 1963 and 1996, when he assembled cabinets for hospitals and schools.

Mr Kitts died on Friday, March 30.

In April, Councillor Bolton paid tribute to her partner of three years. She described him as "a quiet man, a gentleman. Just a wonderful guy".

She said he was "the most wonderful consort" and if she had two functions on the same day, he would go to one while she went to the other so she did not have to let anyone down.

The coroner recorded a verdict of death from industrial disease.