Mine contents under hammer

Eighty miners lost their jobs at Blenkinsopp Colliery

The contents of one of north-east England's last deep mines are due to be auctioned.

Blenkinsopp Colliery, near Haltwhistle in Northumberland, closed with the loss of 80 jobs earlier this year.

It failed to secure any government or European Union subsidies to open a new seam.

More han 230 pieces of equipment from the pit are to be sold at an auction on Monday.

Family business

Items for sale include fork-lift trucks, an anvil and conveyer-belt drives, which were brought up from the pit before it was filled in.

Blenkinsopp Colliery managing director, David Wardle, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's a bit of a depressing day today.

"It has been for the past few weeks really, getting things pulled together and sorted out.

"The colliery has been in the family since 1965, so it's just memories of working here."

"I think a lot of people from Haltwhistle will come to the auction just out of curiosity.

"The mine has been close to their hearts for a long time."