TWO men claiming compensation for the deaths of their miner fathers have blasted the slow payments process.

Brian Davies, of Blackwood, and John Wilde, of Bassaleg - whose fathers both died in 1972 - have been waiting three years and five years respectively but have not received any money.

The Argus' Justice for Miners campaign is pressing for compensation payments to ex-miners and their relatives to be speeded up.

In the four years we have campaigned, the system has become faster but many miners and their families are still waiting for payment, while new claims continue to pour in.

Mr Davies, 68, lodged a claim three years ago for the death of his father, Thomas Davies, who died of lung disease at the miners' sanitorium in Talgarth at the age of 72.

His father worked at Roseheyworth colliery in Abertillery between 1913 and 1964 and had 90% respiratory disability.

Mr Davies' solicitors, Hugh James, have told him they are awaiting a final offer - but with claims from the oldest and sickest miners being dealt with first, he is not optimistic that this will be soon.

"We don't dispute the oldest being paid first, but it is very frustrating. We are just angry at the ineptitude of the system," he said.

Mr Wilde's father Thomas, from New Tredegar, died aged 68. He had worked as a miner for more than 30 years.

The claim is more complicated because some of the records relating to his father have been destroyed.

Mr Wilde added: "I think we could be waiting for at least another year.

"There are a lot of other people in the same boat as us."

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said there had been problems with Mr Davies' claim because his father had died before 1983.

He added that there were other priority claims ahead of Mr Davies' but that he would be paid as soon as possible.

The DTI was unable to comment on Mr Wilde's case.