Japanese PoW campaigner Arthur Titherington has told his fellow death camp survivors not to celebrate yet, despite a deal for compensation being struck.

Thousands of ex-servicemen who suffered brutality in Japanese prisoner of war camps are set to get compensation but from the British Government, not the Japanese.

Government sources said an announcement agreeing compensation claims was expected in the next few weeks.

Mr Titherington, 79, of Church Street, Witney, welcomed the news but with reservations. "I have told my people not to spend their compensation yet. I was at the House of Commons on Tuesday and there was no clear decision at that point.

"I just wish I could give it an unqualified welcome, but no-one is 100 per cent sure yet.

"It is not a question of hatred or vengeance it is a question of justice," he said.

"This has been a battle spanning more than 50 years. We were the forgotten victims and it is about time that was recognised.

"My people are dying now at the rate of one a day if the Government waits long enough they will not have to pay anything. "The British Government has a duty of care which it has failed to exercise and that is why we are going for compensation."

Money for the 7,000 survivors could cost the Government more than 70m.

In the 1950s, PoWs were paid 76 compensation each while former prisoners from other countries got 2,000.

The British veterans are now demanding 10,000.