A Museum dedicated to keeping alive the region's rich mining history has been forced to close - because it does not have enough volunteers.

The Durham Mining Museum display, in Easington Colliery Welfare Hall, opened to the public in 1999.

Entirely funded, organised and run by the voluntary Durham Mining Museum group, the static exhibition has attracted much interest since it was first opened.

But the display of mining artefacts and memorabilia has relied on volunteer staffing.

In recent months, the number of those willing to man the exhibition has dropped.

The situation has now reached a point where the group can no longer run it, so chairman Derrick Lait has announced that it has had to close.

And as the exhibition was dismantled yesterday, Mr Lait said: "We are placing all the artefacts which have been donated into safe storage.''

However, items of interest will still be seen in the area, as they will all be used in the group's travelling displays of mining memorabilia.

There will also be an opportunity for anyone who gave items to the museum to retrieve them.

Mr Lait said: "Any person who has donated material to the Durham Mining Museum and wishes to have them returned can contact me on (07931) 421709 and I will make arrangements to have the items returned.''

Mr Lait said: "It is with deep regret that we are having to bring the museum project to an end, but the lack of volunteer helpers meant we were left with no alternative."

He said that the purpose of the group was to keep the rich history of the Durham coalfield alive for future generations.

"This area was founded on the back of coal and we believe it is too important to be forgotten," said Mr Lait.

But the group remains resolute that the legacy of the coalfield will not die and will be continuing to take its mobile displays to venues all over the county