Featherstone man Geoffrey Littlewood was told by Avalon Solicitors
– which was paid by the government to represent miners – to accept £244 compensation for his vibration white finger and emphysema or face fees.

He turned to Pontefract peer Lord Lofthouse and Featherstone MP Jon Trickett for help and last month the Solicitors' Regulation Authority watchdog found two Avalon solicitors guilty of charges of professional misconduct.
The Cheshire firm's founder and senior partner Andrew Nulty, who once said he made £13m in a year, was struck off, while colleague Malcolm Trotter was fined £15,000.

Mr Littlewood, of Eastbourne Avenue, who worked at Sharlston Colliery for 17 years, gave evidence at the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal.
He said: "We are very pleased with the result after such a long fight. It's not about the money, we just didn't want the same thing to happen to anyone else.
"If an old or vulnerable person was told to pay costs by a legal firm
then they would be terrified."

The three-day tribunal found Mr Nulty had taken fees to which he was not entitled and tribunal chairman
Edward Richards, giving judgement on April 29, said he was a "disgrace to the profession".
He and Mr Trotter were also both ordered to pay substantial costs.

Mr Littlewood's wife Denise praised Towells Solicitors in Wakefield for taking on his case free of charge.
She added: "About five years ago we saw adverts urging people to apply for miners' compensation.
"We chose Avalon and eventually we were offered £244, but we didn't want to bother so forgot about it.

"Three months later a letter told us to accept the offer otherwise they would send us a bill for costs – it was threatening and we were nscared because we couldn't imagine the costs.
"It's wonderful for it all to be over. We couldn't have done anything
without all the help we've had, especially from David Russell at Towells."

Lord Lofthouse said: "We couldn't have done it without Towells. I get great satisfaction from what we've achieved but there is still a lot more to do."

Mr Trickett added: "Mr and Mrs Littlewood can take considerable pride in that they never bowed to threats and stood up for the little man to do something good for others.
"If there are other people in similar situations I would urge them to
come forward."