A former Rover worker who suffers from bladder cancer has made claims about dangerous practices at the Cowley plant which could lead to millions of pounds being paid in compensation.

Ralph and wife RubyRalph Cadle, 60, managed the stores at the factory, handling drums of potent chemicals for ten years until he became too sick to carry on. He claims his illness was caused by working with chemicals and oils.

Mr Cadle, of Cornwallis Road, Oxford, said: "Everything that went through the plant went through me first, including petroleum and oil. It's ruined my whole life.

"I can't do anything anymore. I can't walk very far and I certainly can't lift anything. I am basically living off incapacity benefit. In fact, I really couldn't afford to fight in court."

He has decided to highlight his story after Brian Odell, an employee from MG Rover's Drews Lane plant, in Washwood Heath, Birmingham, was paid £168,000 after claiming he contracted bladder cancer because of contact with mineral oils at his workplace.

The company did not admitted liability, but made an out-of-court payment. Solicitors have predicted that hundreds of workers suffering similar conditions may also be entitled to pay-outs.

Mr Cadle was diagnosed with cancer in 1994. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy and operations to remove re-occurring tumours in his bladder, he was forced to give up work in 1996 and have his bladder completely removed.

Two months ago, the disease returned in his kidney, which was removed immediately.

He said: "The doctors say if I'm lucky, it won't come back again, but who's to say it won't return?

"I have a damaged bowel from all the treatment and we can't go on holiday anymore because I can't spend too long away from a toilet. I used to love walking along the riverside, but we can't do that any more. I've been so ill. It's very upsetting."

Mr Cadle joined Rover's stores, now owned by BMW, in 1985, and claims conditions were never completely safe. During his ten years at the plant, it was owned by Austin-Rover and the Rover Group.

He said: "The stores were moved three times while I worked there. The first was in the basement and had no ventilation. If I was down one end of the room and a fire broke out, I would have had no way of escaping. All the chemicals came through me. Often there'd be a spillage and the fire brigade came in to clear up, but I would have been standing in it for a long time.

"I had safety glasses and sometimes the odd paper face-mask, which wasn't much good, and old plastic gloves, which you couldn't work in anyway. Nothing was properly issued and there was no strict dress code. There was one chemical that made you feel quite drunk. I once asked my foreman if I was safe to use all the different chemicals and he said he wasn't really sure. It was a case of protect yourself how you could."

Mr Cadle, and his wife Ruby, have contacted the Transport and General Workers Union and Mr Odell's solicitors for support in their case.

Mr Cadle said: "I have always been loyal to Rover but maybe they owe me something now."

A BMW spokesman said: "As no legal proceedings have yet been started and bearing in mind that during the ten-year period of Mr Cadle's employment at the Oxford plant the site had two different owners, it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."