Miners' strike: Women march through Durham to mark anniversary

The march through Durham was to honour the women who played a role during the miners' strike by raising money and feeding families

Hundreds of women have taken part in a march to mark the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the miners' strike.

The industrial dispute, which began in 1984, was one of the longest and bitterest in UK modern history.

The march through Durham was to commemorate the role women played during the dispute, setting up support groups and running soup kitchens.

It was organised by the Association of Women Against Pit Closures.

The rally was attended by hundreds of women from around the UK

Heather Wood, 72, of the pit village of Easington, said that when thousands of National Union of Mineworkers walked out over plans to shut collieries, the women in their communities became a driving force.

"If those women hadn't supported the miners, the strike would've collapsed, I've no doubt about that," she said.

"I was happy the miners had decided to strike. I couldn't just let them battle it out themselves."

Ms Wood sent letters to every woman in Easington asking for help and the result was the founding of 14 support groups in East Durham which helped feed struggling families.

County Durham miner's daughter Maureen James, who also took part in the march, said: "At the time of the strike, wives said to their husbands: 'I'm with you 100%, we will survive' and, by God, we did."