(BBC) - Eight Britons who believe their disabilities were caused by Thalidomide have launched legal action against the drug's manufacturer and distributor.

The BBC has seen court documents in which the eight, who have a range of disabilities, are claiming damages.

Some of them were rejected by a scheme set up by distributor Distillers which compensated 460 UK survivors in 1973.

The anti-morning sickness drug caused babies to be born with limb defects and damaged eyes, ears and internal organs.

Law firm Slater and Gordon, which is acting for the eight, said papers had been filed at the High Court on behalf of eight people whose mothers took the drug while pregnant.

The claimants are suing Grunenthal, which manufactured the drug, and Diageo Scotland which now owns Distillers.

'Held to account' 

Fraser Whitehead, lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: "Grunenthal and Distillers have always claimed that the Thalidomide disaster was an unavoidable tragedy and that they did everything expected of drug companies at the time. Our research has demonstrated that is nonsense.