THE family of a North-East soldier who died after a nerve gas experiment more than 50 years ago have won £100,000 compensation from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison, from Consett, County Durham, died aged 20 after having droplets of Sarin dabbed on his arm at Porton Down chemical warfare testing facility, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, in 1953.

The news comes as lawyers representing 500 veterans are preparing to launch multiple action law suits against the MoD to seek compensation for their injuries.

Mr Maddison's sister, Lilias Craik, said: "It is a great relief. I am still angry at what happened, but I am pleased it is over. I can't forget what they did and I can't forgive them.

"The compensation will not make us rich, but it does bring this to an end. They took his life and should be made to pay for it."

In November 2004, an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing after a long-running campaign for justice by the family of the RAF mechanic.

The MoD immediately appealed against the verdict, but then settled the case in February.

The MoD agreed to accept the verdict on the basis that Mr Maddison had died as a result of gross negligence in respect of the conduct and planning of the experiment.

However, the Porton Down Veterans Support Group said the settlement smothered evidence that Mr Maddison never gave his informed consent to the test.

His family said Mr Maddison and other military personnel were tricked into taking part in what they believed were harmless experiments.

But Alan Care, a lawyer acting for the Maddison family, said he hoped the settlement would open the door for compensation and recognition for the 500 veterans who claim they suffered from the experiments.

"They've got nowhere else to go," he said.

"They've been calling for a judicial inquiry and that's always been refused. Now they can only pursue their claims for personal injury."

Kenneth Earle, 72, a survivor and founder of the Porton Down Veterans Support Group. told The Northern Echo last night that he was pleased for the Maddison family but hoped the MoD would now recognise many other claims.

Mr Earle said: "I sat in the same chair as Ronald Maddison two days before. He died in 45 minutes and I'm still here.

"But I haven't been well, my nervous immune system is damaged and I have a huge list of medical problems.

"There are many others like me and many who are no longer with us.

"There were only 12 people took part in that test on May 4 and 6, 1953.

"There were only five of us left alive to give evidence at the inquest in 2004."

He said testing was carried out at Porton Down from 1939 until 1989 and estimated as many as 20,000 service personnel went through its doors.

The MoD last night issued a statement which said: "We very much regret the unfortunate death of Ronald Maddison.

"We are extremely pleased that an amicable settlement has been reached."

His death, at the height of the Cold War, was hushed up by Winston Churchill's government, which ordered that the inquest into Mr Maddison's death, which reached a verdict of misadventure, be held in secret.

After years of campaigning by Mr Maddison's family, an inquiry was launched by Wiltshire Police in 1999.