DURHAM comes to a standstill on Saturday as former colliery communities across the county congregate in the city to hark back to their coal mining roots.

The Durham Miners' Gala is a reminder of the county's past a decade after the closure of the last pits in the coalfield, but as time goes on the sense of history and tradition remains alive.

The gala, considered to be petering out in the early 1990s, is now a firm fixture in the calendar for years to come.

The parade of bands and banners will take place from 9.30am, with the procession beginning at the NUM headquarters at Redhill, near the railway viaduct.

Between 40 and 50 bands will lead lodges and other union groups to wind their way through the city centre, including a detachment of former war-time Bevin Boys with their standard.

The focal point of the parade is the balcony at the Royal County Hotel, in Old Elvet, where each lodge band stops to perform for the assembled dignitaries.

Attention switches to the Racecourse at around 1pm, when the speakers will be GMB general secretary John Edmonds, Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, Gala favourite Tony Benn and Unison lay-president Veronica Dunn.

Among the guests will be former Labour leader Michael Foot.

There will be plenty of entertainment for the crowds, including the traditional Racecourse fun fair.

Several of the bands and banners, including the three from the former Seaham collieries, plus the Dean and Chapter and Mainsforth lodges, will take part in the traditional Durham Cathedral service at 3pm.

Joint organiser George Robson, a former NUM regional official in Durham, said the feedback from the colliery communities appears as positive as ever.

"It's amazing really. There have been no pits in the county of Durham for around ten years now, and yet the communities are determined not to lose their heritage.

"About nine or so years ago there was a bit of a slump, but it's picked up again now and we have support to keep the tradition going. As long as the will is there, there will be a Gala."