A 90-YEAR-OLD former miner fears he may miss out on compensation after being asked to provide details of his job - going back to 1924.

John Palmer, from Coundon, in County Durham, started work down the pits when he was just 14. He has suffered pneumoconiosis since 1949 and was diagnosed with emphysema in 1995.

Mr Palmer received an interim compensation payment for his condition from the Coal Board. But to receive the full amount the former miner needs to provide details about his first job down Leasing-thorne mine.

The ex-pit worker's case is now with the National Union of Mineworkers, which is fighting for compensation for thousands of former miners.

He said: "All my life I've worked in collieries, until they closed in 1963. Then I was on disability allowance. On bad days I feel like I'm choking. I use a frame to walk about because my leg muscles have wasted away from lack of use. I have a questionnaire of about 20 pages to fill in. I've already filled in virtually every point I can remember when I first claimed in 1998."

His niece, Janet Fletcher, who now cares for him said: "Apparently a consultant is going to come out and see him, to confirm his emphysema is related to working down the pits, but we were told that could take a few months.

"He's 90 so how long can he wait?"

North-East representative of the NUM Ian Lavery said there would be plenty of people who could help him fill in the forms.