IT was terrible disaster that lives on in the memories of a whole community. Now hundreds of people young and old have pulled together their experiences and tributes to commemorate a landmark anniversary of the Easington pit disaster.

Exactly 60 years ago tomorrow 81 miners and two rescue workers were killed when a massive explosion tore through the Duck Bill area of the colliery.

After the initial low rumble of the first explosion at 4.30am, a wall of flames roared for more than nine miles through the mine, bringing down the roof.

Scores of miners were killed instantly with others trapped and left to die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Among those reliving the ordeal this weekend is rescue worker George Ottowell, who still lives in the County Durham village. Now 86, Mr Ottowell has spoken about the horrors he faced arriving at the disaster scene as part of the Crook mine rescue team.

He said: “Houghton rescue crew were coming out as we went in and they had not seen any sign of the explosion as they had been sent down the wrong way.

“We went in another direction and as soon as we hit the belt line there it was in front of us.

“There were 7ft wood props with steel girders which were cleaned out, the belt was overturned, there were bodies from first going into that stretch all the way along the belt line.”

His memories form just part of the commemorative events being organised over the past 12 months by staff at Beamish Museum.