A former prisoner of war captured by the Japanese as a little girl has welcomed moves to give survivors extra compensation.

But Barbara Sowerby, who was just five when her family was sent to a camp, is calling for the £10,000 compensation to be accompanied by an official apology from both the British and Japanese governments.

Defence Minister Lewis Moonie announced in the House of Commons yesterday that former Far East PoWs will receive a £10,000 non-taxable lump sum from the British Government.

He also said that where prisoners had died, surviving spouses would be entitled to the payment.

Up to 16,700 people could be eligible at a cost of £167 million. These include PoWs, former members of the merchant navy who were captured and imprisoned, and British civilians who were interned.

Former POWs were paid just £76 compensation in the 1950s as part of Second World War peace treaties.

Mrs Sowerby's family only received £45 and her mother was refused a widow's pension even though her husband fought in both world wars and was tortured to death by the Japanese.

The 64-year-old from Aldbourne, near Swindon, was a PoW for five years in Hong Kong, after her family was seized by the Japanese.

She endured starvation, disease and cruelty in very harsh conditions and has since been vocal in the national campaign for compensation.

The mother-of-three has written hundreds of letters to politicians, talked to MPs and joined protesters who turned their backs when Emperor Akahito visited England two years ago.

But any relief she feels at the latest announcement is also tinged with caution and disappointment.

"Compensation is definitely needed. What we went through was horrendous. But I have been this far before and promises have been made. It could still be months before it actually happens.

"Dragging it out this long means a lot of people who should be getting this compensation have now died.

"I still want an apology from the Japanese Government and our own because they should have fought for more compensation for us after the war. I still have the feeling that my own people have let me down all this time."

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