MILLIONS of pounds in compensation and benefits have yet to be claimed by the families of former dock-workers in Hampshire, it emerged today.

Tonnes of asbestos shipped into the UK through Southampton Docks in the 1950s and 1960s left ticking time bombs in workers and their wives, who washed their dust-coated clothes, all over the county.

But few sufferers are receiving the money they might be entitled to, say legal experts.

Across Southampton, Portsmouth and Plymouth, more than 3,000 former dockers are in the process of claiming compensation and benefits, but that could be only a fraction of those who are entitled to it.

Now an industrial claims company, Industrial Diseases Compensation, has stepped in to offer free advice to former Southampton dockers who feel they maybe affected.

A spokesman for IDC, Ken Ferguson, said: "We are dealing with more than 3,000 former dock workers from Southampton, Portsmouth and Plymouth, but many thousands of men worked in Southampton Docks and could have been affected.

"There is a lot of money left unclaimed. Much of it is in the form of benefits from the Department of Department of Work and Pensions.

"We could be talking about millions of pounds left unclaimed.

"The problem is that many people are intimidated by the process claims forms and end up not claiming."

Legal executive Wayne Empson, who works for the Northumberland-based company's legal department, urged claimants to come forward sooner rather than later.

If three years elapse from the time of diagnosis or the time of death of the sufferer, the claim is invalid.

Mr Empson said: "The minimum compensation I have seen awarded in a successful claim was £50,000.

"Certain types like mesothelioma - a common killer in the region - often fetch between £100,000 and £150,000."

Southampton is one the top ten black spots in the country for asbestos related fatalities, which outnumber deaths caused by road accidents.

Dockworkers handled hessian sacks of the carcinogenic killer long before the dangers were understood.

Now the Health and Safety Executive is running an awareness campaign to reduce further risks to workers in all industries.

New amendments to the Control of Asbestos at Work Register, originally introduced in 1987, are currently passing through the Houses of Parliament.

All managers of business and charity premises will be obliged to have an asbestos register by 2004.

Heavy fines may be levied if managers do not know where asbestos - once favoured for its flame-retardant insulation properties - can be found in their buildings.

Associated British Ports, which took over Southampton docks in 1982 following privatisation, said it had no comment to make on the issue.

Industrial Diseases Compensation will be holding free advice sessions next week at: BLOB Netley Royal British Legion, 100 Station Road, Netley, Southampton on Monday October 21 between 12 and 3pm.

Northam Community Centre, Kent Street, Northam, Southampton on the same day between 5 and 7 pm.

Woolston Royal British Legion, Sholing Road, Woolston, Southampton on Tuesday October 22 between 12 and 3pm.

Community Services, ECS House, Romsey Road, Eastleigh on Wednesday October 23, between 1 and 4pm.

Mr Ferguson added: "Anyone who may have worked in Southampton docks and feel they could be affected should come along."

For further information contact 0800 454532.

FACTFILE: Asbestos related conditions:

1. Pleural plaques - raised area of calcified tissue in the lining of the lung, usually without symptoms but cause impairment of the lung.

2. Pleural effusion - a non-malignant collection of fluid between the lung and the chest wall.

3. Diffuse pleural thickening - thickening of the lining of the lungs causing severe breathlessness.

4. Asbestosis - scarring of the lung tissue resulting in increasing disability and death.

5. Lung Cancer - a malignant tumour of the lung but often difficult to relate directly to asbestos.

6. Mesothelioma - an incurable form of cancer that affects the covering of the lung or abdomen.