THOUSANDS of former miners in Barnsley should soon be entitled to benefits for leg injuries caused by poor working conditions down the pits.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is due to be deemed an industrial illness because ex-miners are twice more likely to suffer from it than anyone else.
A parliamentary committee has been investigating the condition and is expected to recommend its inclusion in the industrial injuries list and the report is due to be put to government in February.
Barnsley West and Penistone MP Mick Clapham has been lobbying on behalf of sufferers for some time and is delighted his battle is nearly won.
He said: “Indications from people very close to the Industrial Injuries Committee are that the survey clearly shows that a miner has twice the risk of a member of the general population of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
“That’s the basis on which diseases are prescribed as industrial illnesses and that's what they are expected to recommend.”
