THE son of a North-East miners’ leader who died recently is bidding to launch his political career.

Stephen Guy’s father David had been president of the Durham Miners’ Association for 27 years when he died of cancer in July, aged 66.

Now Mr Guy Jr, 44, is standing as a Labour candidate in Durham County Council’s Sherburn ward in next May’s elections.

The father-of-one, who lives in Sherburn Village, said: “My dad stepped up to the plate in 1984-85 (during the Miners’ Strike).

I’d like to think I could offer these communities something as well.”

Mr Guy followed his father into the mines aged 18, spending six years in the industry. He then worked for the council for 20 years and is now with Macmillan Cancer Support.

In 2007, he contested the now-defunct Durham City Council’s Gilesgate ward, but lost.

Mr Guy Sr is credited with helping save the Durham Miners’ Gala from extinction and turning it into the country’s biggest trade union event.

His son said: “I stand shoulder to shoulder with my dad’s politics. My dad started some great work in the mining communities. I sought to continue that in my career and this is an extension of that.

“Sherburn is a former mining community. The memories are long. The spirit’s still there. These communities are under attack from the coalition.”

Sherburn currently has two Liberal Democrat county councillors.