A MINING tragedy that saw 12 men and boys from Ingleton killed in England's biggest pit disaster is to be commemorated in the town's library.

The Oaks Colliery Disaster in Barnsley happened on December 12 and 13 1866 and resulted in an official toll of 361 deaths in two separate explosions.

It remains the biggest loss of life in a pit disaster in England. Twelve men and boys from Ingleton were killed in the explosions, most from the same family.

Ingleton Library and People and Mining, a group and registered charity made up of ex-miners, plan to commemorate the 12 in a series of events next month in the lead up to the 150th anniversary of the disaster..

On Wednesday, November 9 at 1.30pm, author, storyteller and broadcaster Ian Clayton will be running a creative writing workshop. Mr Clayton has edited and written more than 40 books, broadcast on TV and radio and conducted education workshops everywhere from infant schools to universities, working regularly with musicians on opera and music theatre projects.

“I’m really looking forward to visiting Ingleton and working with the local community in commemorating the 12 Ingleton men who died at Oaks," he said. "I understand that there are descendants of the men who still live locally and I can’t wait to meet them.”

On Tuesday, November 22 at 1.30pm, there is a chance to meet Yorkshire-based sculptor Graham Ibbeson as he talks about creating the Oaks Memorial Statue.

Mr Ibbeson, some of whose ancestors died in the disaster, is a sculptor of national renown and has produced sculptures of Dickie Bird and Les Dawson as well as the well-known bronze statue of Eric Morecambe which is on Morecambe promenade. He will be joined by mining historian Paul Darlow, who will talk about the colliery disaster and its impact on Ingleton.

Both events have been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and are free to attend. To book a place, call Ingleton Library on 01609 534504 or email ingleton.library@northyorks.gov.uk.

People and Mining is hoping to find as many descendants of the victims as possible, or anyone who has memories of Ingleton as a mining village, and is asking them to contact the library.