The family of a former shipyard worker in Edinburgh who died after coming into contact with asbestos has been awarded more than £340,000 in compensation, STV News has reported.

Lord Clarke ruled the relatives of George Manson should receive the payout because Henry Robb Ltd, which admitted liability for the exposure, did not do enough to protect him from the substance.

Mr Manson, originally from Dalkeith in Midlothian, died in early 2016 aged 81 from mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer.

The lethal condition has affected many shipyard workers who came into contact with asbestos in the 1960s and 1970s.

Lord Clarke made the ruling in a written judgment was issued at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Mr Manson worked in the shipyard, which was located in Leith, before moving to England with his family in the 1970s. He came into contact with asbestos during his time at the yard.  The court heard asbestos can cause mesothelioma.

Mr Manson was diagnosed with the illness in July 2015 and his condition deteriorated quickly. Lawyers acting for Henry Robb agreed the company did not do enough to stop Mr Manson from being exposed to asbestos.

In a hearing held earlier this year, Lord Clarke was asked to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded to Mr Manson’s family.

After hearing evidence Mr Mason was a member of a “very close” family and his relatives were devastated by his death, Lord Clarke ruled payment should be set at £340,634. He wrote:

“When the deceased was diagnosed with his fatal condition in July 2015, the family were informed that the deceased would be likely to live only for a few months.

In the event the deceased survived for about ten months but his condition deteriorated rapidly and within two months of diagnosis he could not really help himself.

Although his family had been warned that the deceased was going to die, his death itself came as a great shock to all of them.”