MORE than £5million has been paid out in compensation to East Lancashire miners in the past five years.

Since 1999, the Department of Trade and Industry has paid £5,286,926 to 206 ex-miners of the Burnley Coalfield and their families - an average of £25,665 - for respiratory diseases and a condition called Vibration White Finger .

Now sufferers of diseases like bronchitis and emphysema, caused by dusty mining conditions, are set for a cash boost, after the Law Society ruled solicitors should not charge fees.

The Law Society's Compliance Board issued the statement saying charging was unjustified and unprofessional.

The move today received unanimous backing from East Lancashire MPs.

Peter Pike, Labour MP for Burnley, said he knew of cases lasting years because of problems in proving illness.

He said: "Lawyers should not be able to take a cut from the miners. If the miners are having to pay the lawyers, the lawyers are been paid twice.

"The scheme is not for them to make money. It is for the miners and their families."

Greg Pope, Labour MP for Hyndburn, slammed solicitors involved in compensation cases for ex-workers of mines like Moorfield, Calder and Hapton Collieries.

"The solicitors have been appalling," he said. "When I worked in the DTI it was lawyers who held up payments to miners.

"I have nothing but contempt for solicitors who delay payments to miners who are seriously ill or have died from working in the mines.

"I welcome anything preventing the lawyers from making money from miners."

The Government pays all solicitors fees in successful cases. However, some firms take a cut of payouts on top of fees.

Janet Paraskeva, chief executive of the Law Society, is writing to all firms involved in the biggest compensation case in British history to highlight the changes.

She said: "I am pleased we were able to deal with this so promptly following concerns raised. The principles are clear, additional charges cannot be justified."

Jack Nadin, a miner at Hapton Valley, the last pit to close in 1982, said he receives several letters a week from solicitors encouraging him to claim. He is seeking respiratory disease compensation.

The 55-year-old, of Willow Street, Burnley said: "I do not think solicitors should be taking fees.

"They are basically jumping on the bandwagon."

Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Coal Health Claims said people being charged fees should demand a refund.

If they face problems, they should make an official complaint to the Law Society.

The deadline for respiratory disease claims by former miners is March 31.