LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has been appointed to a new group set up to fast track miners' compensation claims.

The Midlands and Lancashire monitoring watchdog, appointed by energy minister Brian Wilson, will be required to check progress on the pay-out of claims and identify blockages in the system. It will also have the power to make recommendations directly to the minister.

Mr Wilson will be returning to the borough in autumn for a follow-up meeting to his earlier visit to Leigh Miners' Institute.