ED Miliband could be the first Labour leader to speak at Durham Miners’ Gala in almost a quarter of a century.

Mr Miliband has confirmed that he will attend this year’s Big Meeting in Durham City on Saturday 14.

Last year he accepted the traditional invitation to the party’s leader to address the gathering but pulled out because of the presence of "militant" rail union leader Bob Crow.

The last Labour leader to attend was Neil Kinnock 23 years ago in 1989.

His successors John Smith, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown all stayed away from what is now the country’s biggest union event.

Durham Miners Association secretary Dave Hopper said: "His PA rang about an hour ago to say that he is on board.

"I’m quite happy. It is the natural place, in my opinion, for the Labour Party leader to be.

"Hopefully,it has ended a very barren period where a number of people thought that it was wrong to come here.

"I think he will do himself more good than harm by appearing here.

"We welcome the change of heart. We think he made a mistake last year, and let's hope he has a good day.

Asked why he thought Mr Miliband’s predeccessors had snubbed the event, Mr Hopper said: "One or two of them tried to change the party, change the politics, they thought that we were just old dinosaurs who didn’t mean anything.

"Contrary to most people’s expectations it (The Gala) is more important now than it has ever been.

"Let’s hope he will tell us we are going to be the next government and we are going to fight these Tories and fights these attacks on the working class."

A Labour North spokesman said: “I can confirm that Ed Miliband has accepted the Durham Miners' invitation to attend and speak at this year’s Miner’s Gala.

"The Big Meeting is one of the highlights of the Labour movement’s calendar and we look forward to welcoming Ed to Durham in the summer for what

"I’m sure will be an enjoyable day” John Prescott, Labour's deputy leader, was the last senior figure to speak at the Gala, which has enjoyed a big revival in popularity over the last 20 years.

Although crowds do not match the size of those in he heyday of the region's coal industry, several thousand people turn out every year.