Service marks 75th anniversary of Holditch Colliery deaths

A service has been held to remember 30 miners killed in a north Staffordshire colliery disaster 75 years ago.

The men were killed and other miners injured during a fire and explosion at the Holditch Colliery in Chesterton on 2 July, 1937.

The Reverend Barry Wilson led the first memorial service to remember the men at Chesterton Parish Church.

Historian Jim Worgan said 4,500 miners had been killed in north Staffordshire since 1840, according to new research.

"Coal provided the industrial bases for north Staffordshire but the price that was paid was tremendous," he said.

Mr Wilson said he decided to lead a memorial service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Holditch deaths after discussing the disaster with Mr Worgan.