For many years Rochdale, a town in northern England, was home to the world's largest asbestos works, Turner Brothers. Many inquests in the town and surrounding area have ended with a verdict of death by industrial disease as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos.

In a crippling blow to sufferers, Law Lords (legally qualified members of the House of Lords) have ruled that Rochdale workers suffering from an asbestos-related disease will not be able to claim compensation. Lawyers were working on several cases prior to the decision, which removes an established right to compensation for pleural plaques.

This ruling follows closely on the heels of a separate Law Lords ruling last year, which denioed compensation for mesothelioma.

The case dates back to November 2004 when 10 Rochdale men went to court seeking compensation from insurance companies who wanted to stop the payments. The case went on to the High Court and then the Court of Appeal before finally reaching the Law Lords.

Disease compensation claims ruled out