I AM a retired miner. For many years I worked at Thrislington, Mainsforth, Blackhall and Easington collieries.

When I talk to ex-miners about the coal face, we all wish those happy days would return, if only for those tall stories that dare only be told there.

I can still remember my old friend saying he was going to enjoy his lunch because he had meat sandwiches for lunch, only to find a rat had found a way to get into his bait box.

There must have been more rats down the pit than workers.

It was a sad day when the government closed down the mines. We still needed coal not dole. Those happy carefree days will never return.

Jimmy Taylor, Coxhoe