THE “retraumatising” compensation process for subpostmasters wronged by the Post Office Horizon scandal could go on for another three years, lawyers have warned.

Many victims are still awaiting full redress, as one of the final reports from the long-running inquiry – looking at the impact on those who had their lives destroyed and considering compensation – is set to be published tomorrow.

More than 900 subpostmasters were wrongfully prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts.

One law firm involved in securing redress for victims, Hudgell Solicitors, said it still had more than 700 ongoing compensation cases to resolve.

Solicitor Neil Hudgell said the firm had agreed damages for more than 300 people, totalling £170 million.

He said: “We have seen inconsistencies between the various compensation schemes, which remain over-engineered and over-legalistic, with far too much red tape to get through.

“There has also been a repeated failure to give the benefit of the doubt to subpostmasters in appropriate circumstances.

“It’s made it far too long a process for so many people who have been through so much and are now in the latter stages of their lives.

“It has been retraumatising for many and increasing numbers are sadly passing away without seeing redress.”

Mr Hudgell said one client who was initially offered £50,000 has seen their offer rise to £500,000.

He added: “It is not a one-off glitch, but a stark illustration of a very common issue.

“It has been a painful process for all and ended with a new appeals process being confirmed earlier this year, in recognition that many people had been under-compensated.”

The previous Conservative government said those who had their convictions quashed were eligible for £600,000 payouts – with victims such as Amanda and Norman Barber accepting the fixed offer.

Despite losing their business and home, the Warrington couple said they found it “almost impossible” to provide the details required to have their case individually assessed so did not want to risk “getting less.”

Unexplained shortfalls in their accounts at Thelwall Post Office eventually led to them being prosecuted over a deficit of £5,600 – despite using around £200,000 of their own money to attempt to balance the books.

Both received a community order of 12 months and 100 hours’ community service.