A VILLAGE paid tribute yesterday to the men who lost their lives in a mining accident 100 years ago.

Hewers John Whittaker and Thomas McCormick died on November 16, 1903, when the Victoria Pit, in Sacriston, near Durham, flooded.

A third miner, Robert Richardson, was rescued after being trapped underground for four days.

To mark the centenary of the tragedy, North Durham MP Kevan Jones unveiled a commemorative plaque in Sacriston Working Men's Club.

Mr Jones said: "It is vital that we remember Durham's rich mining history and I congratulate the club for marking this occasion."

The club displayed its collection of memorabilia, including entries in the miners' lodge books logging the disaster and a silver commemorative cup from 1903, that recently turned up at a car boot sale in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Durham Mining Museum also put on an exhibition.

Club secretary Lawrence Claughan said: "This is a part of the history and culture of our village, and we felt it was important to remember it."

Disaster struck at about 11.30am on November 16, 1903, when Mr Whittaker, hewing at the face of the Busty coal seam, hit a fault, releasing a torrent of water that had been pent up in old mine workings nearby.

His body was found 60ft from the coal face, while Mr McCormick was found still in his work place. Both men had drowned.

Mr Richardson, who was working at a higher level, found himself cut off by the rising floods. He was entombed in the mine for 96 hours while engineers pumped out the water before the rescue party could go in.

"He had no concept of time down there because his watch had stopped after 24 hours," said Mr Claughan.

"His first words to his rescuers were, 'By, you've been a long time in coming!'"

Six of the rescue party received silver medals from the Royal Humane Society for their bravery and a further 50 were commended.

It was the first time the society had awarded honours for those involved in a mining disaster.

Mr Claughan is trying to trace the silver medals. Anyone who can help is asked to contact him at the club on 0191-371 0334 or 371 1197.