TEARS were shed again at the weekend as new stories emerged of the 168 men and boys who died the North-East's worst mining disaster almost 100 years ago.

The emotional scenes came as relatives of the Stanley Pit Disaster came to join the call for a memorial to mark the mass grave where many are buried.

Hundreds of people from as far afield as Leeds and Morpeth attended the Burns Pit Disaster exhibition organised by The Advertiser and its sister paper, The Northern Echo.

More than £500 was raised for the Stanley Pit Disaster Appeal for a memorial, at the event held at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Front Street, Stanley.

The occasion included historic photographs, memorabilia, newspaper reports and stories about the disaster which have emerged during the campaign.

And, for the first time, full details of exactly where the victims were buried was revealed.

Advertiser and Northern Echo reporter Chris Webber, who organised the event, said: "The response was overwhelming - beyond my wildest expectations.

"I never realised quite how much it meant to people. For some it was though the disaster had happened months ago, not nearly 100 years."

Among new stories that emerged came from Ruby Sheavils, 80, of South Stanley, whose grandfather James Ross was rescuer.

She said her aunt's brother Alex Wilkinson had died after swopping a shift with one of his best friends.

She said: "When he died he did not know that his partner was one month pregnant. Eight months later the baby Alexandria was born.

"His friend would often be close to tears whenever he looked at the baby and used to say over and over 'it should have been me'."

Two different people related the story of Charles Readman and Matthew Elliott.

Charlie, 14, was injured and told his friends to go on ahead. But Matthew ran back help him and ran full tilt into a doorway knocking himself out.

Charlie died, and Matthew's body was brought to the surface - in everyone's mind lifeless. While lying in the joiners alongside the injured a pulse was seen under his blackened face and he was revived. He went on to live until 1952.

The weekend's event fell over the anniversary of the tragedy which happened when a build up of gas ignited on February 16 1909. It claimed 168 lives - 54 of the bodies lie in the unmarked mass burial grave behind St Andrews Church, in Stanley.

The event included a talk and slide show by local historian Jack Hair, with music from folk artist Benny Graham, and Consett Brass, as well as a slide show by Francis Newman.

Anyone who can help the campaign for a memorial can call Chris Webber (01642) 513346.