North East has high death rate for asbestos cancer

New research has highlighted the North East as having one of the highest death rates for asbestos-related cancer.

The findings, by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, showed North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle to have higher than average death rates for mesothelioma, which is a type of lung cancer. Six people die from it everyday in England.

The new analysis found that six people die of asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma every day in England and Wales. The average rate for England is 4.51 out of every 100,000 people.

Nationally, 2,305 people died as a result of mesothelioma - 27% higher than in 2006, Apil said after analysing Office for National Statistics data.

President of Apil, Neil Sugarman said: