A MEMORIAL is planned for the miners who died in one of the North-East's worst pit disasters.

Stanley Hall Community Partnership is asking Derwentside District Council for planning permission to put a stone cairn on the shaft head of the West Stanley Burns Pit.

One hundred and sixty eight miners were killed in an explosion at the colliery, on February 16, 1909.

If the bid is successful, the group aims to open the monument on the anniversary of the disaster next year.

Partnership member Derek Robson said: "This is an important part of Stanley Hall's heritage and is right outside our homes."

In October, the partnership and children from East Stanley Primary School planted hundreds of crocus bulbs on the site.

The crocus was chosen because it flowers in February, providing an annual reminder of the tragedy.

Mr Robson said the pupils would also be invited to become involved with the memorial.

The partnership already has £300 for the project, donated by ward county councillor Les Vaux, and is in talks with environmental group Groundwork West Durham to secure more funding.

Councillor Alex Watson, the leader of Derwentside District Council, said: "Two memorials exist to the mining disaster in Stanley, but it is fitting that there should be one on the pit head, provided it is done in the right way."

The accident happened when a build-up of gas in the mine ignited in a massive fireball. Flames shot into the air and the 168 men and boys were burned, choked and crushed to death.

The explosion was so fierce that windows were blown out in nearby streets.

It shook the region's mining community: on the day that the funerals were held, about 200,000 people visited the small town.

The corteges carrying the coffins were often unable to move, at least six funerals took place at any one time all day.

Ambulances struggled to reach women and children who had fainted.

A campaign by The Northern Echo over the past two years has raised more than £2,500 for a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in unmarked mass burial trenches in St Andrew's Church, Stanley.