Selby's last mine closes

An era came to a close this week in Selby, Yorkshire, when the last of the coalfield's five mines closed. Digging at the Riccall mine (above) ceased 21 years after the Selby "superpit" was opened as part of an ambitious plan to safeguard the industry amid widespread pit closures. At its peak, the coalfield employed more than 3,500 people, but this had declined to just 260 this week. Energy minister Mike O'Brien said it was a "very sad day" for Selby.