A NORTH-EAST campaigner is calling on the Government to declare an official day to remember the sacrifice made by thousands of miners.

John Kitching, of Brandon, County Durham, has collected 6,000 names on a petition backing the proposed miners' memorial day.

Mr Kitching, chairman of the Brandon Heritage Group and a member of the National Mining Memorabilia Association, said it would give mining communities the chance to pay tribute to the men whose work contributed so much to the wealth of the country.

He said it would also allow them to honour those who lost their lives in accidents and disasters, and from illnesses caused by their work.

Mr Kitching said: "It would be the chance to do something like Remembrance Sunday at the mining memorials you have throughout County Durham.

"It would be to remember the sacrifice made by the communities and the miners to create the wealth of this country."

Mr Kitching said his petition was strongly supported by people from mining and former pit areas such as Scotland, South Wales, Yorkshire and Kent, but had been also signed by people from regions with no mining heritage.

He said: "I have handed it to Durham City's Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, who will take it when Parliament resumes. She is hoping to present it to the Prime Minister.

"I am delighted with the response I have had. In the beginning, I thought getting 3,000 signatures would be good. I am full of hope that we will get a day.

"Our previous MP, Gerry Steinberg, tabled an Early Day Motion in January and got 57 signatures for a memorial day.

"Hopefully there could be more support when Roberta tables it again."

Dave Hopper, Durham area secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, said he supported the idea but did not think it would win Government support.

"The petition is to be put in some Early Day Motion. I support the petition but the powers that be who strut the land these days are not inclined to support miners - or any other working people.

"It will be interesting to see what happens in Parliament."