TELEVISION actor Ricky Tomlinson hailed miners' champion Arthur Scargill as his hero last night when the pair shared a podium in the North-East.

The two men were guest speakers at Crook Cricket Club for the annual Durham Miner's pre-gala event, where a traditional unfurling of a new miners' banners takes place.

A thrilled Tomlinson, who plays Jim, the work-shy father in hit comedy, The Royle Family, said: "Arthur Scargill is one of the very few heroes I've got. I count the man as a friend. I loved Arthur and no one thought more of the miners than he did. He predicted what would happen to the miners and we didn't listen to him."

The former plasterer looked at home as he signed autographs and enjoyed a pint with friends.

"I'm delighted to be here and meet other building workers. These are my people," he said. "I'm more at home here than any award ceremonies with dickie bows. I'm just an ex-plasterer who got lucky."

It was Mr Scargill's fourth year running at Crook and he took the opportunity to warn of the danger of the region losing its mining heritage.

"The people in this area are absolutely fantastic. I speak as the grandson of a Durham miner," he said. "It's an important event. We seem to have discarded many important events in the Labour Movement's calendar and so we are losing part of our heritage."