DURHAM North MP Kevan Jones has accused a law firm of ripping off families claiming cash for miners who died from lung disease.

In the House of Commons, Mr Jones accused Newcastle firm, Mark Gilbert Morse, of taking cash from claimants after it had been paid by the Government for the work.

Mr Jones has demanded that the firm, which has more than 29,000 mining compensation clients, pays back the cash. He said: "Some firms are like vultures by taking a cut of claimants' compensation on top of the fees already paid to them by the Department of Trade and Industry.

"This is nothing short of total greed taking money off people who are dying, or poor aged widows and families for whom this money was meant."

Several of Mr Jones' constituents in Stanley had complained after signing an agreement with Mark Gilbert Morse which entitled the firm to up to 25pc of the claim.

Derek Robson and his sister, Doreen Greener, of Stanley, put in a claim for their father, Wilfrid, who worked in the mines and died in 1969 after suffering from chronic bronchitis for years. He received £4,310 and the law firm took about £900.

John Morse, of Mark Gilbert Morse, said all compensation will be repaid to all clients.