A North-East law firm will be investigated by its governing body over complaints about charges it levied to families seeking compensation for miners who died from lung disease.

The Law Society said it was investigating allegations that some law firms claimed a slice of the compensation, even though their legal fees had already been paid by the Government.

Speaking in the House of Commons last month, Durham North Labour MP Kevan Jones named solicitors Mark Gilbert Morse, of Grey Street, Newcastle, as one of the firms.

It followed complaints from several of his constituents in Stanley, County Durham - including Doreen Greener and Linda Elliott, who said they were charged thousands by Mark Gilbert Morse after submitting claims for their fathers.

Janet Paraskeva, chief executive of the Law Society, said yesterday that a review of the way cases had been handled was under way.

"We are examining as a matter of urgency the issues this raises and we will do all we can to help miners with work-related diseases, their widows and families," she said.

"The Law Society will not apply the usual time limit to any complaints relating to miners' compensation claims. Nor will claimants be asked to complain to their solicitors before approaching the Law Society.

"We are arranging for issues which MPs have raised about a minority of solicitors' charges to be considered by our Compliance Board."

She said comments made in Westminster by Mr Jones will be looked at as part of the investigation.

John Morse, a partner with Mark Gilbert Morse, said a small number of clients taken on before April 2000 had been charged some of their compensation as a fee by the firm.

He said the firm had agreed to repay these sums before the matter was raised in the Commons by Mr Jones.