New 'Time Tunnel' tells the history of coal mining

Former miners Andy Clayton and Russ Jones lead tours of the time tunnel

A new "time tunnel" exhibition which tells the history of British coal mining has opened in West Yorkshire.

The feature, which has been created within the walls of a disused passageway once used to transport coal, opened at the National Museum of Coal Mining in Wakefield earlier this month.

The exhibition uses a range of interactive features, artefacts and digital characters to take visitors from the early 19th Century through to the near-present.

The tours are led by former pit workers themselves.

Digital characters are used to bring the story to life

The museum's head of masterplan, John Tanner, said the response to the time tunnel had been "fantastic".

He said: "I've been watching school trips coming in today and the children have been absolutely enthralled.

"They're listening to our miners talk about their experiences, as well as watching these characters come to life and taking them back in time to the 1830s.

"They're surrounded by the sounds of a coal mine and the smells of the coal mine. It's a really astonishing experience and we're absolutely chuffed to bits that everyone's responded to it so well."

John Tanner said the response to the tours had been "fantastic"

The museum normally runs underground tours down a former mine on the site to offer a glimpse of what life was like for pit workers.

However, these are on hold until April this year while a new winding engine - which powers the mine's lift - is installed.

But it is hoped that the time tunnel, which is at surface level, will offer an accessible alternative for visitors who may be queasy about going underground.

The tunnel takes visitors through the ages, from the 1840s to the near-present

With the 40th anniversary of the Miners' Strike still ongoing until March, staff and volunteers at the museum believe the tunnel can help keep the stories of the trade alive through future generations.

Tour guide Russ Jones, who worked at Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire for 33 years before its closure in 2015, said "passing on my heritage is hugely important".

The tours run from the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield

He said: "We want to keep mining alive, even though there are no coal mines left and we don't generate electricity from coal in this country any more.

"Many miners lost their lives striving for coal and that's why we've got to keep it going."

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