MOVES are being made to include a mining memorial as part of the redevelopment of derelict land that once housed a colliery and cokeworks.

A series of meetings are to be staged to raise the issue prior to the start of work transforming the site of the former Lambton Cokeworks and Lambton D Pit.

The site, spanning the Durham-Sunderland county boundary, between Bournmoor and Shiney Row, has been flattened ready for the development of 350 homes, plus a stretch of a major road link between Houghton-le-Spring and Washington.

But a former pitman believes it should include some form of fitting tribute to the many miners and coke workers who lost their lives on the site over its history.

George Rowe, who worked at the D pit for the last ten years prior to its closure in 1965, was a mainstay of the campaign to restore the Lambton and Houghton colliery banners, unveiled by former cabinet minister and miners' champion Tony Benn, last year.

Despite suffering emphysema, a legacy of his working life at the coal face, 74-year-old Mr Rowe and family friend Pat Simmons, are now campaigning for a memorial to be featured in the cokeworks' redevelopment.

Representatives of English Partnerships, which is overseeing the development scheme, have been invited to attend the first of the memorial meetings next month.

Mr Rowe said: "There has been mining in one form or other on that site going back to around the 1600s, and although there was never any major disaster that I know of, there were certainly many men and boys who have lost their lives there over the years.

"There was certainly a lot of interest and support for the banner project. We collected £20,000 to cover the cost in only eight months.

"I believe this will generate equal interest and already the National Union of Mineworkers is giving its backing."

Mr Rowe and Mrs Simmons favour some form of sculpture, and have contacted sculptor Colin Wilbourn, who worked on a similar memorial at the nearby former Herrington Colliery site, now a country park.

* The first meeting will take place at Burnmoor Cricket Club, on Thursday, April 14, at 7.15pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.