MORE than 1,200 ex-miners living in the North West have submitted claims for a share of £500 million compensation for Vibration White Finger Disease.

And others are being urged to submit their claims as soon as possible to get their share of the cash.

Bolton MP Ruth Kelly has been told by the Government that 1,247 ex-pitmen in the region have already submitted claims for the cash.

Sufferers are expected to receive between £5,000 and £15,000 on average, although the most severe cases will receive larger awards.

The announcement came after Manchester High Court ruled last month that an agreed settlement of £500 million would be made available to former mineworkers affected by the condition.

Sufferers lose the use of fingers and hands.

After receiving the figures in a Commons answer, Mrs Kelly, Labour MP for Bolton West, has urged anyone affected by the condition to lodge a claim for compensation as soon as possible.

She said: "These former miners have done our country proud and as much as is possible should be done to encourage them to claim what is rightfully theirs."

She said it appeared that there were people who were suffering but had not yet submitted their claim.

Anyone who feels they might be suffering from the condition as a result of working in the mines should contact their local branch of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.