Around £1.5bn damages will be paid to 65,000 former miners suffering from debilitating lung diseases.

Russell Hayes reports: "Some of the original claimants have died."

The government will set up 30 centres across the country to examine individual cases and decide how much each ex-miner should receive.

The miners took legal action against the government and the nationalised coal industry eight years ago.

They claimed that it had been known for decades that dust produced in the coal mining process could cause lung disease and that not enough was done to protect them.

They won their case in court two years ago, and now a compensation package has been put together.

On Friday, details of the settlement will be revealed with payments of up to £50,000 to each former miner, depending on the severity of their condition.

Stephen Byers has set out compensation plans

The extent of the problem is such that the NHS would take 17 years to examine each of the claimants, so special health check centres are being set up.

Industry secretary Stephen Byers said the government hopes to settle the matter as quickly as possible to minimise the stress on the miners.

The condition has left many of the former miners incapacitated with breathing difficulties.

Several have died from lung disease, and their widows will be entitled to some compensation.

Details of the payouts will be given to the High Court in Cardiff.

Stephen Evans reports: "It was known for decades that dust caused lung disease"

The affected miners suffer from lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, all caused by inhaling coal dust underground.

Many of the ex-miners started working underground at the age of 14 in the 1950s, when there were no dust masks and no showers at collieries.

Dust was 'like walking in fog'

British Coal had always denied liability for the miners' illness, but six test cases were successful last year, opening the floodgates for others to make claims.

The Department of Trade and Industry took over responsibility for the liabilities after British Coal was privatised.

Energy Minister John Battle said: "Money is in place to meet the claims and our aim has been to make sure all miners receive fair levels of compensation.

"With agreement on Friday we can put the assessment machinery in gear and start paying as soon as possible to the most deserving cases first."

Former miners affected by lung disorders welcomed the announcement.

Alec Burrell, 74, worked for 43 years at Brodsworth pit in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, which he joined straight from school at the age of 14.

John Battle: Most deserving cases first

He now suffers from pneumoconiosis and emphysema, cannot walk more than a few yards without stopping to catch his breath and has had to give up his hobbies of fishing and snooker.

He said: "Conditions were bad underground in the early years. The dust was so thick it was like walking into a fog.

"British Coal did not provide us with masks for years - and even then there were never enough to go around.

"But at the time you just accepted the conditions as part of the job."

After retiring early due to ill health, father-of-four Mr Burrell is hoping to visit his sister Marion in Canada with any compensation he receives.

Charles Powell, 75, from Mid Glamorgan, started working in the mines at the age of 14.

He was forced to retire on medical grounds in 1975 because his health had deteriorated.

He has emphysema and chronic bronchitis and wakes up every night choking for breath.

He said: "I only get 20 minutes sleep at a time. I never go out now and I'm in the bedroom most of the time, on my own. I feel as though my life has been taken away.

"But I don't feel angry - it was a job which I needed at the time and we were all in the same position."