THE plight of haemophiliacs infected with deadly viruses through contaminated blood is to be highlighted on national radio tomorrow.

Radio Four's Face the Facts programme will look at the exposure of hundreds of haemophiliacs across the country, including scores in the North-East, to hepatitis C, HIV and new variant CJD.

The move comes after a series of articles in The Northern Echo detailing the fight by victims for compensation and a public inquiry.

Newcastle-based Haemophilia Action UK campaigner Carol Grayson, who has been interviewed for the programme, said: "We hope this will educate the wider public over what has gone on and, hopefully, some people will think how they would feel if they were in this situation. And if this has been covered up, it raises the question of what else has been kept quiet."

The Government has refused to hold a public inquiry into the scandal, saying that all the information is already in the public domain, even though haemophiliacs had not been not warned of the risks of contracting hepatitis C.

Ms Grayson, whose partner has contracted both HIV and hepatitis C and been exposed to blood from a victim of nvCJD, said: "We felt it was important that infected people up and down the country had a voice.

"We hope by generating further interest we will be able to get at the truth of what happened."

l Face the Facts is on Radio Four at 12.30pm tomorrow.