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An 82-year-old who saw her son die from an asbestos cancer has been awarded £10,000 in compensation in a case brought by Thompsons Personal Injury Solicitors.

Widow Annie Little was with her former Clyde shipyard worker son Ian Cruickshank, 52, when he died in hospital in 2001 after contracting mesothelioma. Mrs Little was awarded the sum at the Court of Session, Edinburgh.

She said afterwards: "He started at Fairfields when he was 17 and worked there and at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders for 10 years, then at Govan Shipyards for a further six years."

She added: "No amount of money can ever compensate for the death of my son. But I felt it was only right to pursue this case as a matter of principle, so it might benefit other mothers who face a similar situation in the future."

The court heard Mr Cruickshank started becoming breathless in 2000 and had difficulty walking quickly. That summer he told his mother he had been diagnosed with mesothelioma and had maybe six months to live. Mrs Little described his death as a horrible one. Judge Lord Brodie said £10,000 was 'a just figure' rejecting the shipyards lawyers assessment that as little as £3,000 would be appropriate.