The Advertiser's Stanley Burns Pit Memorial Appeal exhibiton opens this Friday.

Every penny raised from the exhibition and separate music and slide show will go directly towards the cost of building a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in an unmarked mass burial trench.

Part of the exhibition, at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley until Sunday, February 16, will tell the story of how former pitman Bob Drake discovered exactly who was buried in the mass burial trenches - despite contradictory records caused by the confusion of the time.

Mr Drake also discovered where each of the other 114 victims of the Burns Pit explosion are laid to rest.

The exhibition is open each day from 10am until 6pm and entry costs £1. Tickets for an event from 2pm on Saturday involving a talk and slide show by local historian Jack Hair and music from folk artist Benny Graham are also £1 but will be limited to 60 places. Tickets are available on the day but are expected to be snapped up early.

Consett Brass will provide entertainment before the music and history event. Everyone involved is giving their services free.

John Delaney, corporate affairs manager at The Coal Authority, gave the organisation's support to The Advertiser and our sister paper The Northern Echo.

He said: "The Coal Authority fully supports the campaign to provide a lasting memorial to the men and boys who lost their lives."