Miners often suffer from many work related problems

The government could be facing a multi-million pound compensation bill from thousands of Nottinghamshire miners who have suffered knee injuries.

They claim their joints were left suffering from ligament damage and arthritis after working in cramped coal seams.

The Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) is bringing 10 test cases to court - although they claim more than 35,000 miners are affected.

The UDM says low seams in pits like Clipstone meant many miners were forced to squat, kneel or crouch for long hours.

Some of the mineshafts were less than three feet high.

So far the government have paid more than a �100m in compensation to those suffering from Vibration White Finger in the East Midlands.

The UDM are issuing proceedings in mid-May and say the payouts could be the biggest yet.