A FORMER pit village is preparing to commemorate the men who lost their lives in the local colliery over several decades with a permanent memorial.

A brass plaque bearing the names of 69 miners who were killed or died of injuries suffered at Blackhall Colliery, east Durham, will be unveiled at a ceremony in the village’s community centre on Thursday, May 21.

Blackhalls Local History Group treasurer Stan Gray said: “The men died in various accidents ranging from rockfalls to being hit by a truck between 1913 and 1981, when the pit finally closed.

“It is an important part of our heritage and we as a group felt that the men should be remembered - especially by the younger generation.”

Mr Gray said he had been approached a year ago by Durham county councillor Rob Crute, who suggested a permanent memorial be created to those who lost their lives at the pit.

He added: “At that time there was only a sheet of paper in a frame with the name of 57 men hanging below the colliery banner in the community centre.

“We did some research and established there were 12 men who had not been listed. They have now been added to a permanent brass plaque.”

A day of events has been planned from 10 am to 4pm on Thursday, with the unveiling scheduled for 10.30am. Several relatives of those who died will be present.

Pupils from Blackhall Colliery Primary School, St Joseph’s RC Primary School and Hesleden Primary School will unveil the plaque, with 23 three children from each school individually reading out a name on the plaque.

The pupils have painted and created images depicting what they think life in the mine was like. mines looked life

The North East Area Miners’ Social Welfare Trust Fund donated £280 for the plaque.

The event will include an exhibition of mining memorabilia from the Durham Mining Museum in Spennymoor, while Beamish Museum also will also put on a display.

Blackhall's colliery closed in 1981. There is now an industrial estate built over part of the old colliery buildings, the colliery itself was pulled down in the 1980s.

Blackhall beach made a notable appearance in the 1971 film Get Carter starring Michael Caine - in the climactic scenes the main character is involved in a chase across a coal-strewn beach.