Jayne Beesley (55) nursed John Lambie through mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lungs – that caused him extreme pain until his death in November 2006.

Now Mrs Beesley, of Coronation Avenue, Throckenholt, has been awarded £253,000 damages by London's High Court after suing Surrey-based New Century Group, for whom her husband worked when he was exposed to asbestos.

Mrs Beesley, who was married to John for 35 years, said: "It's a devastating disease. I could not believe that something could be so cruel and awful.

"The cancer was caused by the asbestos exposure John suffered when he was working scrubbing down ceilings and walls in factories 40 years ago.

"After diagnosis we were told he had a year to live and there was nothing they could do for him. He died five months later."

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer, which can take between ten and 40 years to manifest itself.

Mrs Beesley added: "In one way John was lucky because this could have come out quicker and he could have had no life at all.

"I promised him I wouldn't put him in a home, so I put a bed in the front room with a chair next to it and used to sit there all day.

"It was terribly sad but I'm pleased I did it. At the end John couldn't move at all. He only weighed about four and a half stone because he couldn't eat properly.

"I miss him a lot. It's taken me a lot time to get over it."

Mrs Beesley, who has now remarried, hopes to do some volunteer work at a hospice caring for people with cancer.

She added: "I'm trying to move on and rebuild my life.

"I've had a lot of experience of dealing with cancer so I think I could help other people.

"The money won't bring John back but it means I will be able to move house. There are too many bad memories for me here and I will be able to take all the good ones with me."