Mr Waldron is proud of his life down the pit

Syd Waldron spent 38 years working underground and is one of a group claiming damages with help from the Nottinghamshire based Union of Democratic Mineworkers.

He claims the years or repetitive work in cramped conditions left him unable to walk far or kneel down without pain.

He says he is determined to get compensation and recognition of his condition.

Syd Waldron said: "They (his knees) gradually got worse and worse towards the end of 1983 and when I was offered early redundancy I took it because it was uncomfortable kneeling on them.

"They were getting worse all the while until finally I had to have them replaced."

If successful it could allow thousands of other cases to follow.