A GROUP who have spent years cataloguing the mining history of Cleveland and North Yorkshire has received funding to secure the sites from inquisitive members of the public.

Cleveland Mining Heritage Society (CMHS) is using the money to pay for security gates on sites to protect people from potential dangers.

“We look after old mines, often digging out drifts closed long ago,” said Simon Chapman, founding member and secretary of CMHS. “This causes us concern for members of the public regarding the threat of bad air and possible roof falls. There is another problem too. We enter mines that contain footprints, rail prints and artefacts undisturbed for 150 years. It is heartbreaking to find intruders unthinkingly destroying them."

The money has come via a series of grants from the mine operated by ICL Boulby.

“Our obvious interest in the mining history of this area makes us doubly happy to be able to help the Society protect our heritage,” said Andrew Fulton, MD at ICL Boulby. “One of our former workers, Neil Rowley, is very active in making sure the group get the help and support they need. We thank him for that.”