THE visibly angry husband of a woman who died in the outbreak of legionairre's disease in Barrow in 2002, had to be calmed down after an outburst at the borough council's boss.

Doug Milburn, whose wife Wendy was one of seven people who caught the deadly legionella bacteria from an air-conditioning unit in Forum 28, owned by Barrow Borough Council, was quizzing Tom Campbell, council chief executive, at the inquest into the deaths at Furness Magistrates' Court today (Tuesday).

Mr Milburn said: "I don't know how you can stand there and say you still deserve your job."

Coroner Ian Smith said: "Please Mr Milburn, that is not appropriate for this inquest."

Mr Campbell had earlier admitted that he knew there was a problem with the air-conditioning unit, but knew nothing of a risk of legionella.

He said he had walked along Portland Walk (an alleyway next to Forum 28) and had heard the noise from the unit and seen a cloud of vapour emitting from it.

"I was aware that the system was failing and I was aware we had identified a specific contractor who was scheduled to come out and fix it but in none of that was I aware of the fact that there was a health and safety issue with regard to legionella."

The inquest continues.