HUNDREDS of people took to the streets to mark the 35th anniversary of the Golborne Colliery Mining Disaster.

Residents, councillors, MPs and former miners gathered on Sunday to walk behind Golborne Brass Band from the Queen Ann pub on Bridge Street to St Thomas’ Church where a service was held in memory of the 10 men that died on March 18 1979.

The procession was made possible by kind donations from the community and in total £6,235 was raised for the Golborne Ex-miners Association.

Clr Stuart Keane, who is on the Golborne Village Committee, said: “The reaction from the people of Golborne has been great. Some have given little sums, some large sums, but they have given more than enough and we have plenty left over for the parade in five years time as well.

“The turnout has been magnificent as well, everyone has been taking about it and they’ve all come together to remember what happened that day.”

Pupils from All Saints Catholic School, Golborne Community Primary School and St Thomas’ Church of England School sang at the service as did the Parkside Colliery Male Voice Choir.

Harold Cunliffe, who was a rector at the time of the tragedy, read out the names of the ten men as the candles were lit and survivor Brian Rawsthorne gave a reading.

He told the congregation: “I always feel slightly embarrassed and overawed standing in front of the families who lost someone. But while I am here, I would like to thank Eric Foster. Without Eric these days would not happen. He works tirelessly behind the scenes especially this year when we have had to raise funds.”

MPs Andy Burnham and Yvonne Forvague were in attendance as were representatives from the Golborne branch of the National Union of Mineworkers.