'Toxic sofas' victims win £750,000

MORE than 400 customers whose claims for compensation were rejected by the High Court after they suffered burns from "toxic sofas" have finally won their long-running legal battle.

The victims, who bought the sofas from collapsed Land of Leather furniture chain, yesterday won a settlement totalling 750,000, weeks before their case was due to be heard by the court of appeal.

The case, believed to be the largest consumer group litigation in UK legal history, was launched against three retailers - Argos, Land of Leather, and Walmsleys - which accepted liability.

At the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Justice MacDuff approved awards to 408 victims, including 55 children. Each victim will receive 1,800.

Last night Jennifer Gow, 30, from Stirling, who suffered severe burns after buying a sofa from Land of Leather in Falkirk, said the payment was too low.

"I'm glad they accepted responsibility but what happened to people was disgusting. I'm still in pain from skin irritations which went right down into my flesh, leaving the skin weeping.

"I was working selling cosmetics for Boots the Chemist but my eyes were all swollen up and I looked terrible. It is difficult to find work in a small town but more so when you've been let go because of a medical problem."