THE weather gods looked kindly upon visitors to the 124th Durham Miners' Gala at the weekend.

Thousands thronged the streets of Durham to see 41 bands and 85 banners - 25 of them from other unions, such as RMT and Unison - parade through the city on Saturday.

There were five new banners - Handen Hold, Crookhall, Durham Aged Miners' Association, Thornley and Eppleton.

Durham Miners' Association general secretary David Hopper said: "It was a very successful day, and obviously the weather helped. It was as good as ever. I have never seen so many people spread around the field.

"It was a good family day, and, thankfully, there weren't any problems with kids causing trouble at the funfair, which we are very pleased about."

Police reported six arrests - a 61-year-old man for assault, men aged 25 and 27 for possessing a knife, men aged 17 and 21 for being drunk and disorderly, and a 17-year-old girl for a public order offence.

A police spokesman said: "The crowd was largely well-behaved, which is what we have come to expect."

Michael Watt, the New Zealand businessman, who funded the gala in the Nineties, was in the crowd.

Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson joined the march for the second year running, accompanying the Houghton and Lambton banners, as was former miner George Rowe, 78, who has terminal lung cancer.

Mr Rowe, who raised money for the banners and invited the actor to last year's event, travelled on a mobility scooter to and from the Royal County Hotel.

"It was the ultimate," he said. "Everything went according to plan. The NUM really looked after me, they got me a taxi and a room at the County. Ricky really enjoyed it and said he will come back again every year. He was very impressed."

Mr Rowe added: "I'm going to do my best to be there next year."

The 28-strong Ohio Brass Band brought a bit of American razzamatazz to proceedings and was given a warm reception from the crowd.

The band, which played three concerts in Durham, marched with Bowburn's banner and children's banner and played the Bowburn March, which was specially written for the village's centenary celebrations last year.

It was the first US band to play at The Big Meeting since a US Air Force band accompanied Tanfield lodge in 1961.

Mike Syer, of the Bowburn Banner Group, said: "It was absolutely fantastic, wonderful. There was a really nice atmosphere and even the weather was good.

"The band went down very well and I think the members went away very happy. They had a wonderful time.

"A number of them said 'we are coming back', but it is all down to the exchange rate and the price of oil."

Cheers for message to Government

UNION members were urged to fight for traditional Labour values at the 124th Durham Miners' Gala.

Durham Miners' Association (DMA) secretary David Hopper, drew a big cheer when he said: "I have seen 11 years of New Labour and I still want to see a Labour Government.''

He said it was time that "well-looked after MPs'' started looking after the less well-off.

He criticised Government moves to withdraw incapacity benefit from people such as ex-miners and criticised the party's suspension of councillors in east Durham over all-women shortlists.

"It is time the party got back to loyalty to the people who support it,'' he said.

"I don't want any Tory government, I want a Labour government, I want a real Labour government that will do what we tell it.''

He praised DMA president David Guy who introduced the guest speakers despite suffering from cancer.

In his welcome address, Durham Mayor Grenville Holland, a Liberal Democrat city councillor, said unions had a vital role, and that efforts to stop them representing workers should be resisted.

Geoff Shears, executive chairman of Thompsons Solicitors, which represents unions, said the Durham Miners' Association was committed to fighting test cases to win compensation for former pitmen who suffered miners' knee.

He said the DMA had a better success rate on compensation claims for other conditions such as vibration white finger, winning payments almost double those achieved by the Union of Democratic Miners.

Jennie Bremner, assistant deputy general secretary of the union Unite, said: "Whatever disagreements we have with the Labour Government, we must not let the Tories in. We must keep them where they belong - on the backbenches.''

Midlothian Labour MP David Hamilton, a former miner, said: "Gordon Brown should be here. He is a good comrade and should recognise that the trade union movement will take the party forward.''

Mr Hamilton also said that only 15 per cent of Britain's coal reserves had been extracted and that the use of clean coal technologies could help Britain in the energy price crisis.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, urged support for his public sector worker members who are staging a two-day strike this week in pursuit of a "fair pay deal".

He said they did jobs such as serve school meals, work in libraries and feed the elderly.

"They look after us. The Government should look after them,'' he said.