VICTIMS of chemical poisoning and industrial disease can now turn for a helping hand to a nationally acclaimed personal injury expert who has joined to a Kent law firm.

Tunbridge Wells-based Thomson Snell and Passmore, one of the first practices in the country to set up a specialist chemical poisoning and industrial disease department, has appointed Alan Care.

Mr Care, 49, was mentioned in the House of Commons during a recent debate on asbestos and has given numerous interviews for local, national and international media

Greenpeace, the environmental campaign group, said he had "achieved more for pesticide victims than anyone for 100 years".

During his career, he has worked on many high profile actions including cases involving asbestos (particularly mesothelioma), pesticides (including "children born without eyes"), metal and chemical poisoning.

Mr Care is also chairman of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers' environment special interest group.

"Alan's track record and his involvement in many nationally significant and ground breaking cases more than fulfilled every criteria in our search for a new member of the team," said partner Andrew Watson.

Mr Care, married with two children, said: "This is a great opportunity to establish the premier Chemical Poisoning and Industrial Disease practice both in the South East and nationally. I am looking forward to working with Thomson Snell and Passmore to achieve this aim and for justice for the victims of chemical exposure and swift appropriate compensation."