MINISTERS announced today that victims of the infected blood scandal will receive compensation by the end of the year.

Nearly 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products from the 1970s up until the 1990s. More than 3,000 have since died.

Cabinet Office Minister John Glen said victims will receive an interim compensation payment of £210,000 within 90 days, with a full payment expected by the end of the year.