I joined the local community and former miners from across Lancashire for a poignant service at St James’ in Haydock to remember the 204 men and boys who died in the Wood Pit Disaster on 7th June 1878.

As well as being one of the biggest single losses of life in the Lancashire coalfields, The Wood Pit Disaster left in its wake 93 widows, 282 orphans and an utterly devastated community, with the majority of victims coming from Haydock.

As part of the 140th anniversary, St Helens Libraries arranged a commemoration event at the memorial at St James’, with readings and songs from pupils at St Augustine’s taking place in Haydock Library afterwards.

The prosperity of our country was built on coal, and the coal miners like those at Wood Pit and across pits in St Helens who worked to mine it.

Without their daily toil underground and the constant risk of danger and death they faced, the industrial revolution would have stalled before it began. It is right that we remember the true price of coal and the terrible events of 7th June 1878.