A CAMPAIGNER who contracted hepatitis C after being treated with infected blood by the NHS has called for criminal charges to be brought against anyone responsible.

Michael Kenwright, from Runcorn, has campaigned for justice for 30 years after contracting the virus when he was treated for haemophilia with infected blood products.

Last week the government announced inquiry into the scandal that caused more that 2,000 deaths, with an estimated 7,500 people contracting diseases including HIV.

Now Michael has called for criminal charges to be brought against anyone responsible.

The 67-year-old, from Norton Village, said: "It's a move in the right direction and it all depends on what happens now, how long it takes and what the remit for the investigation is.

"There are a lot of people who haven't got six years to wait for answers, as I know a couple of people who may last 12 months to two years but no longer than that.

"It remains to be seen how the inquiry goes now.

"We've seen inquiries where nothing comes out of it and it just depends what they're going to investigate.

"If this goes the same way it's just going to be a waste of time and money.

"I'd like to see criminal charges brought against whoever is responsible."

The length of time taken to bring the matter before an inquiry has angered many campaigners.

Michael added: "It has only come about because people have put pressure on them, but we shouldn't have had to do that to get it.

"It's absolutely disgraceful that we've had to wait 30 years to get an investigation into how 2,500 people have died.

"I personally think that there's that many powerful people involved in this that they didn't want people to know about it.

"It was a massive cover-up, and if they'd have been honest about it at first it might not have been so bad."