A former print machine operator who suffered hearing loss after 20 years of being exposed to loud noise at work has won a four-figure payout.

Roy Walton worked at W E Berry Ltd, printers based at Shipley, between 1975 and 2004, where he was surrounded by large machines, but not given ear protectors for two decades.

The 69-year-old, who lives with his wife Pat in Bingley, first noticed symptoms of hearing loss about six years ago and initially thought he just needed his ears syringing but it become worse over time.

He said: “Not once in the first 20 years was I warned about the dangers and now I am going to require hearing aids. It is such a frustrating feeling losing your hearing and it can be very upsetting that I can’t have a normal conversation with my wife.

“I have to have the TV and radio turned up to the loudest settings just so I can hear them.

“It wasn’t until the latter years of employment that any sound proofing was actually implemented. For 20 years or more I worked in an extremely noisy environment where some of the printers were up to 30ft tall.”

Sarah Tagg, who specialises in industrial deafness cases at Irwin Mitchell, worked on Mr Walton’s claim. He has now had an undisclosed four-figure payout from his former employers to compensate for his loss of hearing.

She said: “Employers have a duty of care to their staff and Roy’s case highlights the importance of workplace health and safety policies, which includes informing them of potential hazards and providing full protective equipment.

“Roy is now likely to wear hearing aids years earlier than expected because of the damage caused operating and being surrounded by noisy machinery without adequate protection.”

Mr Walton said W E Berry was no longer in existence, but added: “I just hope this highlights the importance of wearing the appropriate protection in the work place and hope businesses take action to ensure this issue doesn’t happen again.

“Thankfully I now have the settlement which will help me to pay for hearing aids in the future so that the effect on my life can be as little as possible.”