TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to men killed in a mining tragedy, at a remembrance day in their honour.

Eight men died after a gas explosion in an ironstone mine, in Lingdale, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, on August 24, 1953.

Audrey Jefferson was 21 when she was told that her father, John Butcher, had been severely injured.

She was living in Portsmouth with her husband, Brian, who was serving with the Royal Navy.

"We listened to the news on the radio all through the night to try and find out what was happening," she said. "The next day I received a telegram to say he had died from his burns. He was only 48."

Mrs Jefferson, who is now 71 and living in Lingdale, said: "It was a village in mourning.

"The men weren't killed immediately, but over a few days, eight of them died and seven of them were from Lingdale."

The others who died were William Grayson, 16, Anthony Carter, 19, Jack Ward, 28, Charles Bottomly, 26, Jack Davison, 52, Jack Breckon, 65, and his son, Thomas, 34.

Seven other men were injured.

Councillor Steve Kay, who represents the Lockwood ward, said: "The disaster will never be forgotten in Lingdale, which is still a very tight knit community. Lingdale people understand that their village owes its very existence to the miners."

Mr Butcher's grandson, Mike Jefferson, organised yesterday's event, when the men were remembered at services in the two Lingdale churches.

An evening of remembrance was also held at the Lingdale Tavern, where the Lingdale Brass Band performed. A plaque in the pub honours the victims.

There was a quiz and a raffle to raise money for a monument to the men.

Donations can be sent to The Lingdale Residents' Association, 38 Kirkbright Close, Lingdale.