More than 600 retired Cowley car workers stand to receive compensation payments of up to £10,000 each for damage to their hearing caused by deafening factory conditions.

Many of those in line for payments are now in their 70s and 80s and suffered loss of hearing and tinnitus decades ago.

BMW could be faced with thousands more claims from people who worked in the factory between 1963 and 1990, without being provided with ear protection.

Industrial disease claims specialists BPE Solicitors say they have been taken aback by the number of claims coming forward in recent months.

Peter Lodge, of BPE, said: "A landmark claim against Ford Motor Company reached court back in 1963, where it was found that the company had caused noise relating to hearing loss of its workers. We have been pursuing deafness claims for former and current employees of the Cowley plant for 15 years. "At the moment we are pursuing about 600 cases. We do not know why there has suddenly been such an influx of claims. Perhaps it is down to word of mouth. I suspect there are many more still to come.

"In its heyday, there were more than 25,000 workers at Cowley. The A Building Press Shop was the largest in Europe. And it was not just the press shops that produced a high level of noise. Most areas of the plant were very noisy and even if the workers were not operating machinery, they were constantly exposed to its noise.

"It is generally accepted that hearing protection was only implemented on a compulsory basis at the Cowley plant in 1990. So anyone who worked there between 1963 and 1990, who is suffering from hearing loss now, could be able to make a claim."

He said the amount of compensation varied according to the level of hearing loss, with cases supported by medical evidence clear cut and settled out of court.

Although the damage was caused before the German company bought the car plant, BMW effectively inherited the liability from Rover. Strict Health and Safety laws now mean that current workers' hearing is not at risk. Alec Clanfield, 89, of Eynsham, who worked as a panel beater received a £6,000 payment two years ago. He said: "I have a ringing in my ears all the time. It just never ceases. I'm very hard of hearing."

He began working in the factory in 1929 and only retired in 1980. His son Robin, who also has an outstanding claim, said: "The noise in the factory was just unbelievable."

Frank Jordan, 84, of Wheatley, who began working in the factory in 1934 received £4,750 just a few months ago.

A spokesman for BMW said: "Our involvement is limited to passing claims to the respective insurance companies."