COMPENSATION payouts offered to thousands of St Helens ex-miners blighted by chronic illness from working down the pits and their families has now exceeded the £15-million barrier.

Under the Coal Health Claims Compensation Plan ex-miners who suffered from respiratory diseases or vibration white finger caused by working in pits such as Bold, Sutton Manor and Lea Green have been allowed to apply for damages. Widows and families of miners have also been entitled to make claims.

In total 1,986 miners suffering from respiratory disease and 3,028 families of dead miners have applied for damages. Such was the weight of claims many are still being processed.

Statistics from the end of June this year show almost £9.5million has so far been paid out in St Helens for respiratory disease to 913 living miners and families of dead miners. More than 600 interim payouts have been handed out while claims are processed, while a further 433 claimants have been made final offers but have yet to decide whether to accept them. In the region of 170 claims have been rejected or withdrawn by the government.

It is unclear what the average payouts have been to workers, with the size of payment relating to the severity of the illness.

The Star understands some families are still waiting for an outcome three years after submitting claims, while others are angered at only being offered paltry sums.

More than 900 St Helens miners, meanwhile, have claimed for vibration white finger with 80 families of ex-miners also making claims.

So far more than £6m has been offered to 585 claimants, with 570 interim payments having been made.

The cut off point for compensation for respiratory disease claims passed earlier this year, and the Department of Trade and Industry is working towards settling remaining claims.

Dave Watts MP for St Helens North said: "Good progress is being made and targets are being met and more than £2million is being paid out each day but I and my colleagues representing mining communities are still continuing to press to resolve all claims as quickly as possible."