Workers speak out over 'horrible' working conditions at former coal plant

ITV News Central Reporter Dani Crawshaw speaks to former employees about their working conditions

Former employees have been speaking out about the 'horrible' working conditions they faced at the Homefire coal plant in Coventry.

Francis Copeland is among those who've been left with long term illness.

He told ITV Central: "Oh, it was terrible... There was an awful lot of dusty fumes and even when the conveyers broke down you had to go inside and it was all dirty.

"And then it was worse when you didn't have any - well, you had dust masks but they were rubbish."

The plant, which was owned and operated from time to time by the National Coal Board/ British Coal and National Smokeless Fuels Limited, produced smokeless fuel for households. It was operational from 1965 to 2000.

'You had dust masks but they were rubbish', says one former coal worker

Its former owners and operators have admitted that workers were exposed to harmful dust, fumes and carcinogenic materials in the years up to 1995.

They also admit that, for the period prior to 1995, they were in breach of their common law and statutory duties to former employees who went on to develop serious health conditions.

In the decades that have followed, workers have gone on to develop debilitating long term illnesses, including lung disease and skin cancer.

Former workers who are suffering from health conditions linked to the plant are now being urged to come forward after a group of over 50 Homefire employees were awarded compensation.

To date, the payout totals £475,000, with individual settlements ranging from £2,000 to £100,000.

The legal firm, Hugh James, which is handling compensation claims said relatives of former workers are also able to make claims on behalf of their loved ones if former employees aren't able to do so themselves.