A RESIDENTS' rights champion has helped former miners in Atherton strike a rich seam in their battle for benefits.

Thanks to help from Christine Ridyard, who is Wigan Council's Hag Fold Benefit Awareness Advisor, many former miners suffering from industrial disease are now benefiting from significant payments due to recent changes in legislation.

Funded by the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) 5 Atherton Building Communities, Christine is constantly trying to raise awareness of the compensation and benefits available, some of which can be backdated to 1994.

With Christine's help one former miner has already received £7,000 in backdated benefits and will now continue to receive future benefits.

Now, Atherton resident Christine is hoping to take her campaigning stance a step further by running an open day in Howe Bridge for former mine workers later this month. She can be contacted on 01942 889196.