A SCULPTURE commemorating the North-East’s mining heritage has taken pride of place in a former colliery community.

Horden Parish Council unveiled Marra, a 9ft steel pitman, on Saturday with a fun day for people in the County Durham village.

Horden Colliery was one of the biggest in the country before it closed in 1987.

The sculpture, created by locally acclaimed artist, Ray Lonsdale, depicts a miner with his heart torn out, starkly illustrating the ravages on mining communities that took place in the 1980s.

Dave Hopper, General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association, who attended the unveiling, said: “It is fine piece of sculpture depicting a miner and it is trying to tell the story about how the mining industry had its heart ripped out by the decision of the Tory Government and successive Government’s really.

“The Tories started off the decimation of the industry. It is a while since I have been in Horden and when look around you can see the devastation, see the boarded up shops and see the despair on youngsters’ faces.

“It is a tragedy really and I think we should be depicting things like that because these communities have had their guts ripped out of them.”

The free event included bouncy castles, stalls and an appearance from the Easington Silver Singers, who performed mining hymns.

Horden Heritage Centre and Tea Rooms was open and provided a display of mining memorabilia in celebration of the area’s industrial history.

Horden Social Welfare Centre, the old miners’ hall, was also open as part of the commemorations.

Mr Hopper said: “I am pleased these monuments are going up because it will teach future generations what the Tories have done to the coal industry.”

The parish council asked that the oldest miners who worked at Horden come forward a few weeks ago and the statue was unveiled by a former pitman.

Parish council clerk Paul Davison said: “The parish council was very excited to announce that the official unveiling of Marra and the event was a historic occasion for Horden.

“We do very much hope that people were able to come and see Marra displayed and were part of making more memories that will become part of Horden’s history.”