A regional daily newspaper has launched a campaign calling for compensation for veterans of nuclear testing.

The Derby Telegraph is urging the Ministry of Defence to compensate those affected by the tests, which took place during the Cold War.

Former servicemen were involved in testing nuclear devices in Australia and the South Pacific in the 1950s and more than 1,000 ill veterans are trying to gain compensation from the British Government – after suffering health problems such as cancer, skin conditions and infertility.

The Telegraph launched the campaign last week with a number of articles, including an interview with local man Derek Heaps, vice-chairman of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association, who has leukaemia.

Lobby correspondent Joe Watts, who has led the campaign, said he had written stories before on nuclear test veterans in Derbyshire and the arrival of new Government provided a good opportunity to launch it.

He said: “The interesting thing about it is everyone has a really individual and different story because they all had a different role to play, whether it was on ships, planes or on the ground.

“While the money is obviously an issue and they deserve to be given some financial recompense, the real issue is the Government recognising what has happened to them.

“We have got some good exclusives coming up and we are going to be speaking to a lot of veterans who were involved and exploring various issues around their case and the Government’s case.”

Joe added Britain was the only major western power which has refused to give financial help to those became ill after radiation exposure.

A legal battle is now ensuing while the Ministry of Defence attempts to avoid paying out to the veterans, who are thought to be dying at the rate of three a month.

The newspaper has now put together its own proposals for a compensation package based on settlement schemes used by other countries, which it says would cost £20m.

This compares to the £30m estimated legal fees if the court case rumbles on for years.

The Telegraph has also set up a new website about the campaign to support veterans from across the UK.