Energy minister Peter Hain has pledged to dramatically speed up payments to dying miners.

Mr Hain will announce a compensation package to North-East pitmen and widows which could total £68m by the autumn when he visits Murton, County Durham.

That is almost double the £71m paid out in the North-East in the last three years since the Government accepted liability for miners' health problems caused by working underground.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo, Mr Hain said: "I have seen and experienced the pain of families in this desperate predicament - the men who can hardly breathe, let alone walk, and the women who care for them.

"Too many men, women and families in the North-East have been waiting too long for the compensation they deserve.

"Too many local men have tragically died without seeing a penny of their money.

"This travesty is unacceptable and I am doing everything within my power to try and stop this."

Mr Hain described the plan to double the money paid out in the next six months as "ambitious", but said it is possible if everyone works together.

He also expressed deep concern about the shortage of lung consultants in the North-East and urged more to come forward.

He said: "We can fix appointments to suit them - including weekends and evenings at competitive rates.

"We'll even pay for lung consultants from non-mining areas to come and work in the North-East."

He added: "We're also working on fast tracking the oldest and sickest men in the North-East so that they can get moved to the front of the queue to see a consultant.

"It will mean that some younger, fitter men have their appointments rearranged, but I am sure they will understand. Time is the enemy for too many local men."

Mr Hain said he was delighted to see some progress, but added: "We cannot magic away the problems overnight. "This is the biggest compensation scheme of its kind in the world. A quarter of a billion people have claims and 1,000 more join the queue every week.

"But I will work tirelessly for all former miners and widows wherever they live and this Government will honour our debt to the men who sacrificed their health to deliver prosperity for the rest of us."