A Christmas Island nuclear bomb veteran from Deal must wait until Easter for a High Court decision about his claim for compensation.

Former Royal Engineer Bruce Collyer, 71, joined with 1,000 former Servicemen and members of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association as part of the three-week case against the Ministry of Defence.

The men served on the island during or after six test-bombs were dropped in 1957 and 1958 and they all claim they have been made ill as a result.

Mr Collyer, of Manor Road, has suffered with leukaemia and skin cancer which he blames on the eight months he was stationed on the island a year after the bombs were dropped.

He said he is hopeful the decision would be made in their favour.

“There’s 1,000 claimants in this case and if anyone else wants to claim after that, it should open the door for them."

If the claims are successful, the MoD could face a compensation bill amounting to hundreds of millions.

But the MOD’s lawyers have argued that the claims have come too late, and they are lacking evidence.

Mr Collyer said he was never made aware there was any risk of radiation poisoning during his time on the island nor was he given protective clothing.

Presiding judge, Mr Justice Foskett, warned the claimants they would have a considerable delay before his decision is made because of the amount of evidence he needs to consider.