A Sussex insurance company today announced it would bankroll victims of so-called "economy class syndrome" in suing their airline.

Club Direct said it was the first insurer to change its policies to cover passengers who develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition which leads to the deaths of up to 2,000 British flyers a year, some estimates suggest.

The insurer said it would pay legal costs up to £25,000 for passengers or their relatives to take legal action against airlines.

Club Direct, based in Chichester, said it would meet the full cost of expanding the cover.

The move was designed to force airlines to accept that advice on reducing the risk of DVT should be included in safety briefings to passengers, a spokesman said.

DVT is thought to be caused by lack of movement owing to cramped conditions and dehydration exacerbated by dry air. It leads to blot clots which can be fatal.