THALIDOMIDE survivors picketed a major medical conference yesterday to demand organisers sever their links with pharmaceutical firm Grünenthal, which produced the drug.

The group, who will continue their protest outside Bournemouth International Centre today, were all born physically deformed after their mothers used Thalidomide to treat morning sickness in the late 1950s and early 60s.

The centre is currently hosting the two-day annual meeting of the British Pain Society, which sees doctors and companies, including Grünenthal, discuss pain relief medication.

As part of the new Show Your Hand campaign, the survivors want the German firm to accept responsibility for their condition and pay compensation, and are targeting organisations which do business with them.

Survivor Liz Buckle said: “We need to get our message out there. We are not going to go away and this is just the start.

“We have approached hundreds of people coming in and out of the BIC today and many have expressed their sympathies and said they want to find out more about our situation.”

Grünenthal released Thalidomide in 1957 and it was taken by pregnant women across the world at a time when it was commonly believed drugs would not cross the placental barrier to the foetus.

However tens of thousands of children whose mothers used the drug were born with birth defects, many so severe they died after a few months.

In August last year the firm apologised for its involvement in the tragedy, but stopped short of admitting liability, saying it had carried out thorough tests before launching the drug.

The apology was widely rejected by survivors.

Among the protesters was Graham Carr-Jones, deputy leader of North Dorset District Council. He said: “To say it has been difficult being a Thalidomide survivor is true, but then I have never known anything different.

“It hasn’t held me back, all of us Thalidomiders are fighters and that is why we won’t just roll over.”

Cllr Carr-Jones, who runs a sports memorabilia business, said survivors will benefit from a government fund for the next 10 years, but as they age their need for support is growing.

For more information on the campaign visit www.showyourhand.org