The widow of a teacher who died from an asbestos-related cancer has spoken of her relief after securing justice over his illness.

Sue Beck was awarded an undisclosed sum following an out of court settlement with East Sussex County Council.

Her husband Clive was head of history at Ratton School in Eastbourne between 1972 and 1998 and during that time had been exposed to asbestos.

Mr Beck died at the age of 71 in April 2009, around 18 months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lining of the lung.

Mrs Beck, 70, from Eastbourne turned to legal experts at Irwin Mitchell for help in launching a legal bid against the county over concerns more could and should have been done to protect her husband from inhaling asbestos fibres at the school during his career.

She and Irwin Mitchell are now demanding more should be done to rid public buildings of the material.

Mrs Beck said: “Losing Clive to mesothelioma was devastating and my family and I have been determined to get the answers we feel we deserve over his death.

“To see the impact the illness had on him was unbearable and it is difficult to take when nowadays the risks of being exposed to asbestos are so well known.

“It has been a difficult few years but we are relieved this legal battle is now over. Nothing will ever bring Clive back but we felt it was important to get justice over everything he has faced.”

One of the central issues in the case related to whether the shelves in a cupboard which Mr Beck regularly used to store books and equipment were made from asbestos material.

Former colleagues were able to describe them and stated they were removed during an asbestos removal project at the school in the 1980s.

Irwin Mitchell legal expert Sarah Wolf said: “Despite asbestos being so commonly associated with industrial environments, this tragic case is one of a growing number we are seeing in relation to the presence of asbestos in public buildings such as offices, hospitals and schools.

“It is understood that asbestos is present in 75% of the country's schools and we have long called for comprehensive action to be taken to improve the management and inspection process in relation to the material and ensure its removal where necessary.”

A county council spokesman said: “The council is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for pupils to learn and for employees to work.

“As such, we take our responsibilities in relation to asbestos management very seriously and comply with all statutory guidance released by the Health and Safety Executive.

“All council owned and occupied buildings, including schools, are surveyed by specialist licensed consultants for asbestos containing materials on a regular basis through a rolling programme.

“Where asbestos containing materials (ACM) are identified in any of our buildings they are removed or encapsulated through a controlled and managed process to minimise risk.”