THOUSANDS of lung disease victims could face delays in winning compensation under a Government scheme for former miners and their families unless they lodge claims now.

Solicitors last night warned that they were expecting a rush of last-minute claims to the British Coal respiratory disease scheme, which will close at the end of next March.

Claims should be lodged as soon as possible to avoid a potential log-jam, they said.

To date, about £140m has been paid to pitmen and their families living in former coal mining areas in the North-East.

More than 64,000 claims for compensation have been made in the region for diseases caused by breathing in coal dust.

Following a judgement by the High Court in 1998, former British Coal was found liable for not taking appropriate steps to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by breathing in coal dust.

The same applied to vibration whitefinger (VWF) - a condition caused by repeated use of vibrating power tools.

The Government agreed to take on the liabilities and set up two separate compensation schemes for claimants.

Solicitor Roger Maddocks, a member of the claimants' solicitors co-ordinating group which helped negotiate the terms of the schemes, said: "When the first cut-off date for VWF was announced there was a huge flood of claims in the last few months."

Mr Maddocks, who works at Irwin Mitchell, in Newcastle, added: "I believe that there are thousands of claimants who are yet to come forward.

"Many of these may be estate claims from sons and daughters whose late fathers were exposed and the widow has since passed on."

Former miners or their families should contact a solicitor or their union to lodge a claim or ring the Department of Trade and Industry's advice line on (0800) 0282138.