IN his letter, John Walker (HAS, Apr 22) rebuked VJ Connor for a lack of facts with regard to the Miners’ Strike and mine closures.

I was a miner during the 1984- 85 strike and I will never forget the rough treatment the miners had to endure on the picket lines from the police.

I, like many coal miners, were surprised to read Mr Walker’s letter that he was a police officer in Durham at the time of the strike.

Mr Walker must have been wearing rose-coloured spectacles when he was on picket duty in the miners’ strike in the Durham area. Mr Walker said he experienced unprovoked violence on the picket lines.

I have news for Mr Walker, most of that unprovoked violence came from the police who were hell bent in helping the Tory government to smash the NUM.

I will never forget the day I was on picket duty at Wearmouth Colliery.

I witnessed young police officers in vans waving ten and 20 pound notes displayed like a fan to provoke the young coal miners.

When the young miners reacted to this cruelty they were arrested and taken into custody.

The majority of striking miners in the 1984-85 strike were peaceful pickets who had a bit of a push and shove on the lines and were paid the miserly sum of £2 towards food for the table.

Yes, there were many good elderly police officers in the 1984-85 strike who were willing to help the striking miners.

But many young police officers were carried away by the occasion and were only happy to enjoy their big fat pay packets.

Jimmy Taylor,