YOUR Argus is joined by some of Gwent's leading politicians in our battle to get justice for 5,000 Gwent miners suffering from crippling knee injuries.

After campaigning for six years to speed up the payment process to miners with suffer debilitating chest diseases, we are backing the bid by the union Nacods on behalf of former pitmen crippled by years working in cramped conditions.

Torfaen AM Lynn Neagle said: "As a Labour politician I am determined to offer my backing to any miners' campaign that will address these kinds of issues."

Blaenau Gwent MP Peter Law has also given our fight his backing. "I will be supporting the miners because it is only those who have done this kind of work who can understand the hardship that arises from it.

"I support Nacods taking this action and hope it is successful," he said. His sentiments were echoed by the leader of Blaenau Gwent council, John Hopkins, who said:"The mining fraternity made a supreme sacrifice with their health.

"We as an authority have always supported them and we will be doing so for this claim."

As an ex-miner who spent ten years at the coalface Torfaen deputy leader Lewis Jones says he will never forget the cramped conditions. The Trevethin councillor, who worked in Hafodyrynys and Blaen Serchan pits, said: "I know many ex-miners who can no longer work because of their time in the mines. I support them 100 per cent."

Leader of Monmouthshire council Andrew Crump said he thought the matter needed to be taken seriously.

"We can't change what happened in the past, but we can try to help those who are suffering."