Hundreds of miners' jobs were safeguarded today thanks to a £1 million investment which will maintain production at their pit for the next five years.

UK Coal announced a plan to access new reserves from Ellington colliery in Morpeth, Northumberland, the last remaining deep mine in the north east.

Without the investment the pit could have closed within a year, with the loss of 400 jobs.

Alec Galloway, UK Coal's managing director of deep mines, said: "Recent performances at Ellington have justified the investment needed to access additional reserves which will ensure continuity of mining for the next five years.

"We will, however, be reviewing the progress at Ellington on a monthly basis to ensure that the improvements of the past 12 months are maintained."

Colliery manager Gerry Huitson said: "This is a big vote of confidence in the future of Ellington and I am sure the workers will rise to the new challenge."

Ellington, which was opened 90 years ago, produces around 700,000 tonnes of coal a year. UK Coal's 13 deep mines produce 20 million tonnes of coal a year.