A JUNIOR Miners’ Gala is being staged for schoolchildren at the North-East’s open air museum.

Pupils are parading with their school banners at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, daily until Friday (April 24) during the attraction’s Old King Coal event this week.

They will walk alongside a brass band and steam vehicle, play gala games, learn Pitmatic dialect, meet a miner and ferret handler, go down the drift mine and do traditional crafts, singing and dancing.

The events marks the 200th anniversary of the miners’ lamp, 160th birthday of Beamish’s winding engine, and the celebrates the contribution of pitman poet Tommy Armstrong who worked in local pits.

Old King Coal runs until Sunday. (April 26) and rarely-seen banners from the Beamish collection will be displayed.

Visitors can take part in parades, design own banners, go down the drift mine and enjoy traditional entertainment.

There will be banner displays by Silksworth Mining Heritage Group, Wardley Banner Group and Felling Heritage Group.

Gemma Stevenson, Beamish’s Community Events Officer, said: “We are really looking forward to Old King Coal - it will be brilliant to celebrate so many important aspects of mining life in the North-East.

“It will be a fantastic celebration of the rich mining heritage of the area with lots to look out for – come and join us!Beamish’s Learning and Community Participation Team has been working with schools and community groups to celebrate their mining heritage.

Call the museum on 0191-370 4000 or visit www.beamish.org.uk for further details.