Cheshire's rail, car and truck plants are being urged to attend special free hearing clinics.

The advice sessions are being held in Crewe by leading local injury lawyers Attwood Solicitors.

Experts say many older and retired workers are now suffering hearing loss after being subjected to high levels of noise in factories during the 1970s and 80s.

Audiologists will see clients at a free session at the Crewe Arms Hotel on 27 April.

Ashley Attwood, Principal Solicitor said: "Many workers who experienced hearing loss while working in extremely noisy environments have simply put up with it.

"Often people suffer in silence and don't believe they have a right to compensation for the pain and inconvenience caused to them.

"We were able to help more than 100 people after holding similar clinics in Stoke-on-Trent during 2009."

Successful cases have already been bought by Attwood against South Cheshire companies including the well known former Sandbach truckmaker Foden.

Crewe and Nantwich was also formerly home to several textile companies.

Former sewing machinist Marian Edmondson, of Nantwich, received compensation in 2010 after Attwood's took up her case against V G Garments of Crewe.

The company ceased trading several years ago but Attwood Solicitors were able to pursue a case through their insurers.

Marian said: "I spent many years working in a very noisy environment and have suffered as a result.

"Workers in the 1970s and 80s took the conditions for granted and are now suffering in later life."

Marian, a mother of three grown up daughters, suffers tinnitus which leads to regular high pitched background noise in her ears.

"I thought I would just have to put up with it until I was told that I had a right to compensation," said Marian.

Mr Attwood said that any sounds above 80 decibels are considered dangerous but many older people are now suffering from damage caused before current health and safety standards were introduced.

Eighty decibels is about the equivalent of an average alarm clock going off.

Mr Attwood added: "Employees may wrongly believe it is too late to claim compensation.

"People perhaps don't realise that even if the damage was caused many years ago they may still be entitled to get help and compensation.

"Our reputation as a leader in the personal injury field is based directly on the relationships we build with our customers.

"We are not simply seeking compensation we are working to give clients the help they deserve and need to put their lives back on track."

The clinic will run between 10am and 5pm at the Crewe Arms Hotel, Nantwich Road, Crewe, on 27 April.