FRIENDS and relatives of people involved in the Hapton Valley pit disaster will mark its 41st anniversary later this month.

A service to remember the 19 miners who died in the disaster on March 22, 1962, will be held at St Mark's Church, Rossendale Road, Burnley on Sunday, March 16, at 10am.

Those attending, including survivors from the pit and the Mayor of Burnley, Coun Gordon Birtwistle, will have the chance to meet for a chat and coffee before moving on to the cemetery for a memorial service.

It will be at the memorial stone, close to the entrance to the cemetery, at noon and will be led by Father John Haigh from St Mark's.

Last year more than 100 people attended the service and survivors from the disaster laid wreaths in memory of their workmates.

Bob Clarke, a trustee of the Hapton Valley Disaster Fund, said: "It was a good turnout last year and we are very proud that the service has kept going over the years.

"Hopefully, as many people as last time will turn up this year too."

Nineteen men were killed in the explosion, 16 of whom died instantly. A further 13 were injured.

It was the worst colliery disaster in Burnley's long history of coal mining and plunged the area into a state of shock.