Kellingley Colliery workers try to secure long-term future for doomed pit

Pit operators UK Coal were working to finalise a £20m closure deal which would see the pit close within 18 months.

The deal, which also includes a £10m state loan and a further £5m from other private investors, would have seen a “managed closure” of the pit with gradual job losses until the end of 2015.

But Hargreaves Services Plc, which was expected to contribute £5m towards the deal, announced it was no longer willing to help last week.

Now, members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will meet Mr Fallon to try and secure funding to keep it open beyond next year.