AT least 1,200 claims for chest disease compensation are being made each week by ex-miners and their families in Wales as the deadline looms.

In the run-up to March 31 - the government's deadline for new cases - there has been a massive surge in the number being submitted.

Don Touhig, the Under Secretary of State for Wales, revealed that in the last 10 weeks, an average of 1,200 claims each week were received. In one week in December alone, there were 3,500 claims.

Some 65,000 claims have been submitted in Wales so far and around 70,000 are expected by the deadline.

In Wales, 11,000 cases were settled in 2003, bringing the total number of claims processed to almost 25,000 and the figure paid out to more than £280 million.

But miner's widow Dorothy Foxwell, aged 85, of Crumlin, is still waiting to be paid eight months after her husband of 67 years died and six years after the claim was lodged.

"It is terrible having to wait this long - dreadful," she said.

"I am a widow and have got the house to keep going. I will definitely continue to fight for the compensation we should get."

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said: "We are looking at new evidence and we hope to be able to get back to the claimant as soon as we can."

Mrs Foxwell's husband, Keith, died aged 87 in May. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease but his family believe his incapacity was partly due to 32 years working in Llanhilleth, Glascoed and Celynen collieries.

The Argus, which is fighting for claims to be speeded up, revealed yesterday that Nacods union leader Bleddyn Hancock believed it could take another four years before all claims were settled.

Mr Touhig, MP for Islwyn, said more than 80 per cent of the oldest and sickest Welsh miners have now been paid compensation, and 80 per cent of miners' widows have had their cases settled.

The government decided last year to postpone processing claims from other relatives of ex-pitmen, and to concentrate instead on getting money to the oldest and sickest men and their widows.

Government claims' handler Irisc is processing cases from the children of ex-miners again.

"I would ask them to be as patient as possible," Mr Touhig said.

He urged anyone who believed they may be eligible for compensation to claim as soon as possible and stressed they should find solicitors who would not charge, as the government pay solicitors' fees for all claims.