Mining disaster monument timeline vandalised
BBCA monument commemorating a pit disaster in which dozens of miners died has been vandalised.
The Pit Cage monument in Easington, County Durham, has a timeline of plaques leading up to it, which have been damaged or removed.
Labour MP Grahame Morris said the vandalism was "an attack on our culture, our heritage and our shared history, especially in the year we mark the 75th anniversary of the pit disaster".
Durham County Council's head of environment James Gilchrist said he was "very disappointed" to see the plaques had been damaged.
He said: "We have visited the site to ensure it is safe while we assess the damage.
"The installation is an important part of the town's history and we're sorry to see that some people don't respect that."
An underground explosion at Easington Colliery, County Durham, claimed the lives of 81 miners and two rescue workers on 29 May 1951.
The death toll was so high because the explosion happened as shifts were changing over so there were two sets of workers underground at the time.
A later investigation showed it was caused by a spark from a coal cutting machine igniting gas at the coal face.
'Deeply saddening'
The clerk of Easington Colliery Parish Council, Tony Forster, said the monument was created to celebrate the area's rich mining heritage.
"It was created for the whole community to enjoy and to preserve an important part of our local history," he said.
"We hope those responsible reflect on the impact of their actions and we would encourage anyone with information to report it to the relevant authorities."
Morris said the culprits "should be held to account" and urged people to contact police if they had any information.
"These memorials honour the history of Easington Colliery and the generations of mining families whose hard work, decency, resilience and solidarity built our community," he said.
"It is deeply saddening that those responsible for damaging these memorials appear to have so little respect for the legacy they represent."
Durham Police have been approached for comment.
