Kellingley closure: last coalminers to resurface as way of life disappears

Industry that fuelled Britain for centuries goes into its final hours as workers lament the loss of North Yorkshire colliery

An industry and a way of life will come to an abrupt halt at 12.45pm on Friday when 60 coalminers at Kellingley resurface with only their identity cards as mementos and redundancy cheques for the future.

The men will leave an estimated 30m tons of recoverable coal in the ground at the North Yorkshire colliery and will be laid off alongside almost 390 colleagues by their employer, UK Coal Kellingley, which will be wound up.