A FORMER Risca miner said he feels betrayed by the government after being denied compensation for the osteoarthritis in his knee.

Jeff Kibble, 59, of Channel View, who lives with his partner Dianne Young, 50, worked in the pits for 19 years.

He says his doctor and consultant have concluded he has grade four osteoarthritis in his left knee.

The grandfather-of-ten had an operation on his knee in 2006 but said it has got worse over the last six months.

Mr Kibble applied for compensation from the government but his claim was rejected after it said there was not enough evidence.

He is now appealing this decision through his solicitor.

Mr Kibble said he feels miners have been let down by the government. He said: “I just want to be able to walk and play with my grandchildren. The day will come when I can’t do that.”

Mr Kibble has pain in his knee 24 hours a day and will have another operation on it in a few weeks time.

Mr Kibble, who works in a bakery, said it is a struggle to get through his shift and has to wear a knee support.

He takes 168 painkillers a month and has trouble sleeping, only getting around three hours sleep per night.

Doctors told Mr Kibble he will have to have a knee replacement in the future which will only last ten years.

Mr Kibble said his knee may soon force him to give up work earlier than he intended and said he will be lucky to work until he is 64.

He said he still has a mortgage and any compensation would therefore help him and his family.

He said: “It’s going to go one day and I will be out of work. It won’t bring my health back but it will compensate for me having to finish work."

Mr Kibble, who started work underground at Bargoed colliery aged 16, said pitmen were working in terrible conditions.

The Department of Work and Pensions could not comment on the case as it is going through an appeal process.