Union officials say the families of thousands of former miners have only a week left to claim compensation for the effects Vibration White Finger.

The Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) in Nottinghamshire says as many as 23,000 potential claims have still not been made for the condition.

Vibration White Finger (VWF), is caused by working with machinery and leads to severe numbness in the hands.

The government extended the deadline for posthumous claims for the disease to 31 January.

Miners also often suffer from respiratory diseases

The union says 7,000 claims have been submitted in Nottinghamshire alone, but there is the potential for 30,000 in total.

The government has agreed to give posthumous compensation to families because of the care they gave to relatives who suffered from the illness.

Neil Greaterex, president of the UDM, said the government was also morally obliged to give compensation to families because many miners died before claims were made.

Karen Mitchell, a miner's daughter who lives in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, says her father Norman worked at Newstead Colliery for 32 years and used power tools which affected his fingers.

"He needed help to put coal on his fire and pour his tea," she said.

She said: "The tools damaged his hands and he used to sit rubbing his fingers to get some movement in his hands.

"It was hard to see his deterioration in him and how he couldn't do things."

Widows and families of other former miners are being urged to contact the UDM as soon as possible for details if they want to make a claim.