Campaigners will give evidence at Holyrood calling for more financial assistance for people given blood infected with hepatitis C.

The Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee will hear from Haemophilia Scotland, The Hepatitis C Trust and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum.

Haemophilia Scotland said the Penrose Inquiry into the scandal, which affected people given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 80s, failed to fulfil the reasonable expectation of the affected community.

A total of 478 people were infected with hepatitis C as a result of treatment for a bleeding disorder with 2500 people infected as a result of blood transfusions.

A statement from Haemophilia Scotland read: "We are grateful to the Scottish Government not only for establishing the Inquiry but for recognising the pain and caused by the disaster. Their apology accepted a moral responsibility to those affected.

"We have agreed with the Scottish Government that improving the financial support arrangements is the top priority and accept that progress on some of the other areas detailed in this submission have been reasonably deferred until after new arrangements are in place.

"We believe that the Financial Support Review Group was a genuine attempt to find practical improvements which can be delivered by the Scottish Government. We do not contend that the recommendations are perfect, in particular in relation to the financial losses of those not eligible for ongoing support.

"The need for improved financial support is now extremely urgent. Many of those affected are seriously ill and facing pressing financial hardship."

The Scottish Government will also give evidence at the session on Tuesday.