ACCESS to a popular part of the region's mining heritage is under threat, because its owners cannot find anyone to staff it.

Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has so far failed to find a worker to take visitors inside its coal mine.

One of the mine deputies, Martin Gallagher, retired this year and advertisements to fill the post in JobCentres and local newspapers have proved fruitless.

Without another deputy for next year's summer season, the museum fears that guided tours underground at the Mahogany Drift Mine will be limited to only a number of days each week.

It is looking for someone to take groups inside the shaft, who is also qualified to carry out the required safety checks and is fully trained in emergency procedures.

But the demise of the mining industry means there are hardly any former miners still available to take the position.

The drift mine at Beamish first opened in the 1850s and was worked intermittently until it finally closed in 1958.

The museum re-opened the pit to demonstrate the working conditions of miners in 1913.

Anyone interested in applying for the position is asked to contact Jane Gibson, head of historic operations at Beamish, on 0191-370 4010.