The victims of the Hapton Valley Colliery explosion are being remembered today, 59 years on from the tragedy.

Today, March 22, marks the 59th anniversary of the explosion at the colliery in Burnley which killed 19 and seriously injured another 22 people.

Some who died were as young as 16 and were working in the number two district when the explosion happened, just after 9.45am.

The official report stated that the explosion likely caused by a firedamp ignition, possibly combined with coal dust, originating either in the return gate stable or at a point in the return gate between 165 to 256 metres (180 to 280 yd) from the face.

The mine closed and was demolished in 1982. It was one of the biggest mining disasters in the country.

The victims are remembered on a plaque at Burnley Cemetery on Rossendale Road.

Christopher William Brown, aged 55 years, driller,

Sampson Henry Bulle, aged 44 years, deputy,

James Cumming, aged 19 years supply man,

Robert Dunston, aged 26 years, ripper,

Stanley Faulkes, aged 41 years, filler,

John William Halstead, aged 53 years deputy and shotfirer,

George Hartley, aged 32 years, mechanic,

Raymond Earnest Howarth, aged 20 years, electrician,

Tom Isherwood, aged 49 years, face supervisor,

Donald Stewart McGoogan, aged 28 years, mechanic

Garry Pickle, aged 22 years, electrician,

John Robinson, aged 24 years, filler,

Donald Rushton, aged 33 years, ripper,

Robert Shuttleworth, aged 33 years, filler,

Ronnie Anthony Taylor, aged 16 years, supply man

Benjamin Walsh, aged 25 years, filler.

John Grieg Barritt, aged 23 years electrician,

Joseph Forrest, aged 17 years, supplies man,

Peter Tinsley, aged 16 years, apprentice electrician.