A date has been announced for the closure of the last tin mine in Europe at South Crofty in Cornwall.

The pit will shut on, or around, March 6, unless it is given more government money. The mine has been losing money because of a collapse in the price of tin.

The management and union at South Crofty met for talks as workers went down the mine as usual. They agreed they had little choice but to set a date for closure in the spring.

Without substantial further investment, the ore deposits will be unworkable by that time.

Managing Director, David Giddings, said: "We have to move towards that closure date with phased redundancies. I have got to say to people we will close on March 6 ... unless someone comes along and puts some money on the desk."

There is a slight possibility that the mine can be saved if the government agrees to invest an extra £600,000 on top of the £4.6 million it has already promised. This money would form part of a £12 million rescue package with the remaining cash coming from the private sector.

But the Transport and General Workers Union is pessimistic. It believes continuing uncertainty would be unfair on the workforce and wants to see the closure programme implemented.

"It's mental torture not to do it. They keep putting it off and putting it off, and I think the men want to know where they stand," said union representative, Tony Phillips.

The government will receive new figures shortly on the economics of further investment at South Crofty. But tin prices have fallen again due to the financial crisis in the Far East.

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