People are arriving in the historic city of Durham in preparation for the 138th Big Meeting. Durham Miners’ Gala, which dates back to 1871, is a celebration of coalfield communities and left-wing politics.

Around 200,000 people are expected to be there along with trade unions from across the country. People from former pit villages will be marching through the city with the sound of brass band music filling the air on Saturday.

Union leaders will be welcomed to the stage for political speeches from 1pm and the Miners Festival Service at Durham Cathedral starts at 3pm.

As part of the Miners' Gala - we have pieced together 60 photos of the historic event - and have also put some useful information below:

Road closures

Road closures will be in place in Durham city centre from 4am on Saturday, July 13 to enable preparations for the Gala to parade through the city's streets.

Here are all of the details of temporary road closures organisers have released to residents and visitors plan their day runs smoothly.

Follow our Durham Miners' Gala blog here.

These road will be closed to ALL vehicles including pedal cycles and hand carts (except those pre-approved by the organiser) except for any vehicle/pedal cycles being used for Police, Fire Service or Ambulance purposes between 4am and 8pm.

Speakers

The full line up of platform speakers is:

• Christina McAnea, General Secretary, Unison

• Ian Lavery, former miner, president of the NUM and MP for Wansbeck

• Matt Wrack, General Secretary, FBU

• Mick Whelan, General Secretary, Aslef

• Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, NEU

• Adriana Pella, CGT, the national trade union federation in Argentina

• Alan Mardghum, General Secretary, DMA

• Heather Wood, Women Against Pit Closures

The speeches will get underway on the Racecourse in Durham at 1pm.

What is expected?

The Durham Miners Association (DMA) Brass Band will lead the bands and banners and play during the service.

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds will preach the sermon.

Simon Kennedy, Regional Secretary for the teachers union NASUWT, will give the annual address on behalf of the DMA, and Mary Kelly Foy MP, member of parliament for the City of Durham will do a Bible reading.

County Durham poet Bernadette McAloon will read her poem Coaly Widow, a commemoration of the West Stanley disaster that claimed the lives of 168 miners.