THE legal firm which is heading the UK's claims against the makers of Vioxx painkillers has been contacted by North-East patients.

People from the region are among the hundreds of British patients who are hoping to make claims against drug company Merck, via Liverpool law firm MSB.

The rush to share in potentially huge compensation pay-outs gathered pace after last week's decision by a Texan jury to order Merck to pay the widow of a US man who died after taking Vioxx $253m in damages.

Vioxx was withdrawn from the UK market by Merck last September following the publication of a study which suggested that taking the drug for more than 18 months could double the risk of heart attacks in some people.

More than 300 British patients who say they suffered strokes or heart attacks after taking Vioxx, are poised to sue Merck in the US courts. Another 4,000 worldwide have lodged negligence claims.

Merck has insisted that the drug was thoroughly tested and has said it will fight every case brought against it.

Russell Spargo, spokesman for MSB solicitors, on Merseyside, said: "We have had a tremendous number of inquiries. We have got cases from all over the country, including the North-East."

Although the company has been working on potential Vioxx claims for 11 months, the recent publicity has increased the number of clients wanting to be represented by the firm.

The Liverpool company intends to pass details of the most promising cases to its legal associates in the US. If the claims are successful in the US courts, it could trigger large-scale payments.

Anyone wishing to contact MSB should ring the free-phone 0800 9176370.