A FORMER miner whose lungs were wrecked after years of working in the pits, is to have his compensation claim speeded up, thanks to The Northern Echo.

Emphysema sufferer Ben Aitken, from Wheatley Hill, County Durham, struggles for every breath as a result of inhaling coal dust during his 46 years underground.

His son Ian contacted The Northern Echo for help after learning that Mr Aitken would have to wait until August next year for a medical assessment to determine his claim.

He could then expect another lengthy wait before he was paid his full due.

Now, following intervention from The Northern Echo, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has pledged to bring forward his appointment.

Ian Aitken, a Cambridge businessman, had written to Prime Minister Tony Blair to express his disgust at the length of time it was taking to deal with his father's case.

In September, Government Energy minister Helen Liddell did announce a series of measures to speed up the compensation process for thousands of sick and dying former pitmen suffering from lung diseases.

This followed The Northern Echo's Justice for the Miners campaign, which featured Ben Aitken's plight.

Mr Aitken, however, is not eligible for the new so-called "fast track" compensation offers introduced under the new measures.

He has received an interim payment from the Government since he submitted his claim more than two years ago.

A spokeswoman for the DTI said: "We accept that it is far too long to wait for Mr Aitken to have his appointment, and we will look into speeding things up.

"It is frustrating for people that medical appointments cannot be sooner, but once they have been seen, an offer is made to them within four to six weeks."

The number of claims for compensation now stands at 126,000, and more than £85m has so far been paid out by the Government. It has already been announced that the deadline for claims is to be extended indefinitely.