Victims of the Buncefield disaster could be receiving compensation pay-outs within months, following am agreement reached in the High Court on Monday.

Around 46 Hemel Hempstead households are expected to take the first tranche of payments from Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL), joint operators of the oil depot.

Among them is Shirley Cunningham, a former police trauma counsellor and self-employed hypnotherapist from Leverstock Green, who is claiming at least £2,000 for lost earnings.

The Claims against HOSL include personal injury, damage to homes and devaluation in house prices. During the hearing it emerged that there are 3,500 claims against HOSL from individuals and businesses totalling around £600 million.

Both sides blamed each other for delays in settling claims but Senior Master Robert Turner insisted on progress.

“I am not saying people haven’t worked very hard for the past 10 months but we must have some movement now,” he said.

Senior Master Tuner stopped the hearing and told the parties tot thrash out an agreement on a fixed timetable.

The court heard that Doug Jessop, who lives off Cherry Tree Lane, wants to sell up but has only has one offer which fell £225,000 short of the asking price.

Senior Master Turner commented “No one wants to live in that house because of its proximity to this problem.”

Charles Gibson, for HOSL, said a number of cases had already been settled, and he referred to the company’s offer, reported in last week’s Gazette, to pay all personal injury claims.”

Ms Cunningham’s house in Woolmer Drive suffered more than £15,000 worth of damage while she lost out on earnings because of disruption to her home-based business.

“I am having to re-build my business. It cost me a lot of money,” she said.

“I built up a thriving practice and it feels like you are starting from scratch again. It is Stressful.”