EX-MINERS, their families and supporters gathered in Salford on Saturday for the unveiling of a memorial to 178 men and boys killed in an underground explosion 130 years ago.

The Irwell Valley Mining Project, which keeps alive the memories and spirit of Lancashire’s mining communities, teamed up with Salford University to create the memorial for the tragedy that occurred at Clifton Hall colliery on June 18 1885.

Two plaques commemorating the disaster and the existence of the pit, which closed in 1929, form part of the memorial that represents a colliery pit wheel.

Four generations of one former mining family were present at the unveiling — ex-miner Ivor Kelly and his wife Madge, both 75, their son Paul Kelly, 54, who is also an ex-miner, his daughter Elizabeth, 23, and great-grandchildren Liam, 7, and Chloe, 6.

After the unveiling adults and children planted dozens of bedding plants in a small garden in front of the memorial.