ENERGY Minister Brian Wilson announced last night that the cut-off date for the British Coal respiratory disease scheme is March 31 next year.

A national and regional advertising campaign is under way to encourage miners, and widows and family members of deceased colliery workers to claim now.

Mr Wilson said: "The High Court judge who oversees the respiratory disease litigation has confirmed the scheme can close.

"It is essential that all those former miners and their families, who are yet to claim, contact a solicitor or their union in order to lodge their claim as soon as possible.

"I recognise the sacrifice that was made by the many thousands of men who worked in this country's coal industry and we must ensure that this is repaid as quickly and fairly as possible."

The coal health compensation scheme is the largest personal injury scheme in British history. About £1.7m a day is paid out in compensation for respiratory and vibration-related diseases.

About 120,000 respiratory disease compensation payments have been made since the scheme began.

Almost 400,000 claimants have registered for the schemes and it is estimated the Government will spend about £6bn.

The closure means that no new claims will be processed under the scheme after the cut-off date. Any claims made after March 31 will be handled through the normal court processes.