TWO mining stalwarts with more than 70 years between them in the coal industry have taken over at the helm of the pitmen's housing association.

Bob Olaman, of Dalton-le-Dale, has been elected as the president of the Durham Aged Mineworkers Homes Association and Gordon Parkin, of Easington, is its new vice-president.

Mr Olaman, who has been vice-president for 12 years, moves up following the retirement as president of Joe Whitworth.

He said: "It's a great privilege to be president of an organisation with such a proud heritage, stretching back more than 100 years.

"I have held many positions during my career, but this is perhaps the greatest honour.

"Although we no longer exclusively look after the needs of former mineworkers and their families, we still feel responsible for providing the best possible quality of life for older members of the community."

Mr Olaman has been with the association for 40 years and was a trustee of Murton Colliery Welfare Association for 27 years.

Mr Parkin started worked at Easington Colliery, has been with the association for 22 years and served the Easington branch of the NUM for ten. He also sat on the DSS appeals tribunal in Durham.

The association, which has been going for more than 100 years, manages 1,500 properties throughout the former Durham coalfield.