Pit closure threat to thousands of miners

Thousands of miners are today expected to lose their jobs in the closure of Britain's biggest pit complex.

The announcement of a multi-million pound compensation package was also being predicted to offset the economic impact of the closure, estimated at more than £400 million.

UK Coal is expected to confirm that production will end at the Selby site in Yorkshire by spring 2004, with the loss of 2,100 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. A £43 million compensation package was expected to be unveiled, giving payouts of up to £27,000 per mineworker. The Government is understood to be contributing £10million towards the package, which will pay £900 for every year worked.

The average age of the 2,100 staff at the three separate pits in the north Yorkshire complex is 45. UK Coal was expected to blame huge losses for the closure of the pits at Selby, which opened 20 years ago.

The National Union of Mineworkers described the closure decision as " ludicrous", arguing that the complex could be kept open for another 30 years.