A RENEWED attempt will be made this week to win justice for the forgotten victims of the coal industry across the North-East.

Although the Government is paying compensation to pitmen who suffered ill health after working underground in the region's mines, thousands of surface workers struck down with crippling conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are being denied pay-outs.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who has secured a Parliamentary debate on the issue tomorrow, believes that surface mineworkers around the country are being cheated out of £100m.

Mr Jones said: "The Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) needs to accept that surface workers were seriously affected by dust, just as underground workers were.

"I have met people who only ever worked on the surface, but are clearly suffering from COPD contracted as a result of that work. They deserve to be compensated.

"On Tuesday I will again call on the Government to end this injustice."

The DTI is paying £2.5bn to about 750,000 former underground workers, but surface workers such as mechanics, fitters, electricians and joiners are excluded from the payments scheme.

Among them is 83-year-old Jack Dobson, of Poplar Street, South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, who worked as a blacksmith at the Morrison Busty pit, in Annfield Plain, for 30 years from the age of 16.

He now suffers from emphysema and chronic bronchitis, cannot walk long distances and needs three inhalers to help him breathe - but has not received a penny in compensation.

He said: "There was between two and six inches of coal dust on the floor by your feet and it was moving round all of the time.

"The conditions in those days were disgraceful and we are suffering now as a result.

"I cannot walk more than ten or 20 yards without getting short of breath.

"I think it is an absolute disgrace."

News of the debate was welcomed by solicitor Roger Maddocks, head of the occupational diseases department for Irwin Mitchell, which deals with many miners' compensation claims.

He said: "Men who have been excluded from compensation feel bitter and aggrieved about their exclusion. They are at a loss to understand why they been treated so shabbily."

The Northern Echo was yesterday unable to contact anyone at the DTI for a comment.