LEIGH MP Jo Platt has raised the 40th anniversary of the Golborne Colliery mining disaster in Parliament.

An underground explosion at the site on March 18, 1979 caused the death of 10 miners and seriously injured another miner.

Shadow Minister Ms Platt discussed the matter during the Prime Minister's Questions session this afternoon, Wednesday.

Prime Minister Theresa May offered her deepest sympathies to all of the family and friends of those involved with the disaster with a commemorative march set to take place in Golborne on Sunday.

Residents will gather outside the Queen Anne pub on Bridge Street at around 1.30pm before a procession will be led by Golborne Brass Band.

It will be led through the town before making its way to St Thomas Church for a service which is set to start at 2.30pm.

Speaking after asking her question at the House of Commons, Ms Platt said: “The Golborne Mining disaster was a tragic event for our constituency 40 years ago and an event we will never forget.

"That dreadful day saw the death of 10 brave miners going about their daily lives, working for our community.

“Forty years on the tragedy hasn’t lessened in our towns but I wanted to use the opportunity today to gain the support of the Prime Minister for Sunday’s commemoration service at St Thomas Church on Sunday as well as urge her Government to provide all of the support needed to our ex-mining communities in their honour.

“I am glad that the Prime Minister was able to extend her support for the event and I look forward to joining the commemoration on Sunday afternoon which is always so well organised to rightly honour those we lost.”

The MP asked if the Prime Minister would honour the men who died in the pit disaster by recommiting to increase working safety standards and support ex-mining communities.

The Prime Minister said improvements have been made since 1979 after lessons have been learnt from previous incidents such as the Golborne Colliery mining disaster.

This includes the Mines Regulation 2014.