A CORONER could not trace the “obscure” origins of asbestos during separate inquests into the deaths of four Buckinghamshire pensioners.

All died of mesothilioma - a disease associated with exposure to asbestos dust.

Richard Stratford, 68, from High Wycombe, died on November 15.

Coroner Richard Hulett heard that he could have come into contact with asbestos while repairing air conditioning systems in schools, but recorded an open verdict.

Kathleen Dolling, 78, lived on West View in Chesham and died on November 18.

Her husband told the inquest he did not know where she had come into contact with asbestos and the coroner said “we are never going to find out I'm afraid”. He recorded an open verdict.

Gordon Winterton, of Straight Bit in Flackwell Heath, died on November 29.

The inquest heard he had worked as a stoker in the Royal Navy where he could have come into contact with asbestos in the ships' boiler rooms.

It also heard he had worked as a builders labourer but an open verdict was recorded.

Arthur Wells, 83, of Weedon Lane in Amersham, died on November 19.

The inquest heard he had worked as a quantity surveyor in London and the coroner said “I have some suspicion that this was something to do with it”. He recorded an open verdict.

Mr Hulett told Amersham Law Courts today: “We are getting more and more of these cases and the origins are as obscure [in these cases] as they often are.”