CHILDREN have laid a touching eternal tribute to the miners who died in one of the region's worst-ever pit disasters.

About 90 Key Stage One pupils from East Stanley Primary School gathered this week to plant more than 300 crocus bulbs on the site of the West Stanley Burns Pit shaft head, where 168 miners were killed in an explosion in February 1909.

The crocus was chosen because it flowers in February - providing a poignant commemoration on every anniversary of the tragedy.

Alex Watson, leader of Derwentside District Council, who launched the bulb planting, said: "This is a part of our heritage that we should clearly not forget.

"While these were terrible times, there was a social environment then where neighbours were neighbours and this was a strong community.

"This bulb planting is a real example of today's community working together to remember our history."

The remembrance project was organised by the Stanley Hall Partnership, made up of residents who live near the pit head.

A memorial already exists in Stanley, but the partnership wanted something on the actual site of the tragedy.

The project was overseen by environmental group Groundwork West Durham, which provided the bulbs and gardening tools.

Residents are also raising money for a commemorative stone, which will be officially unveiled on the anniversary of the tragedy next year.

The accident happened when a build-up of gas in the mine ignited in a massive fireball.

Flames shot into the air and 168 men and boys were burned, choked and crushed to death in the devastation that followed.

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

The disaster shook the region's mining community. On the day of the funerals, 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 and ambulances struggled to reach the women and children who fainted.

A campaign by the Advertiser and The Northern Echo raised more than £2,800 for a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in unmarked mass burial trenches in St Andrew's Church in Stanley.